Notables
-There was a total of 34 turnovers between both teams
-A win tomorrow guarantees a UMAC Tournament spot
-Brennan hit 11 of her 18 points in the second half to give the Saints the edge
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica women's basketball team went neck-and-neck with North Central University on Friday night at the Reif Gymnasium to earn an exhilarating 52-51 victory.
Back-and-Forth First Half
The Rams came out strong in the first quarter, and didn't allow a CSS basket until they'd gained a six-point lead in the first five minutes of play. A Kayla Swanson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) jumper got things started for the Saints, and the teams traded field goals for the rest of the quarter, ending the first 10 minutes with the Rams up 11-9. CSS took its first lead after one minute of play in the second quarter with a 3-pointer from Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS). The lead would change once more in the half to give the Rams the edge, but the Saints held their own. Successful layups by Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) and Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) tied the score at 23 going into halftime.
Nerve-Wracking Finish
The second half started much as the first had ended, with the teams exchanging baskets. The lead changed four times in the first three and a half minutes of the third quarter. After that, the Saints hit a bit of a slump and let the Rams gain a six point lead with two and half minutes left in the quarter. The Saints managed to close the gap, and as time expired in the third, CSS trailed 38-37.
The Rams hit two shots early in the fourth quarter and put themselves up by six once again, but an impressive pair of consecutive 3-pointers by Brennan tied the score at 43 with six minutes to play in the game. North Central hit one more field goal to gain a two point lead, but that would be the last lead they saw. The Saints tied it up and then Cieluch and VanKempen put points on the board to put CSS up by four points with 1:48 left on the clock. The Rams closed the gap with a successful 3-pointer. Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) answered for the Saints with three points of her own from a shot beyond the arch with 22 seconds left in the game. Nine seconds later, the Rams hit another three and pulled the lead to within one for the second time in under two minutes. The Rams forced a turnover with four seconds left in the game, but were unable to get a final desperation shot off, and the Saints took the 52-51 victory.
Top Performers for St. Scholastica
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) came through in a big way for the Saints, and led the team in scoring with 18. Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) pulled in seven rebounds to lead the Saints, followed closely by Brennan, who had five.
Top Performers for North Central
North Central had three players score double digit points. Lizzy Swanson led the Rams with an impressive 21 points, followed by Jamie High and Marissa Kari, who had 10 points a piece. Jamie High also led in rebounds with 10, and she had seven steals on the night.
Up Next/Postseason Chances
The Saints take on the University of Northwestern tomorrow night at 5 p.m in the Reif Gym. With a win against the Eagles, the Saints can clinch a UMAC Tournament spot. If the Saints lose, they also need a loss by Martin Luther College to still earn a postseason bid. A CSS loss, paired with a Martin Luther win, eliminates the Saints.
