Notables:
-CSS scored only two field goals in second half
-CSS' six points in the third quarter came off of free throws
-Morris shot 28.6 percent from the field, while CSS' percentage was 16.1
DULUTH, Minn. - The St. Scholastica women's basketball team was defeated 47-39 in an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) game against the University of Minnesota Morris on Friday night at the Reif Gymnasium, scoring only 10 field goals over the course of the entire game.
Difficult First Half
Early in the first quarter, the Saints jumped out to a 10-2 lead, thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers to open the contest, giving CSS its largest lead of the entire game after only four minutes of play. From there Morris was able to close the gap, scoring 11 straight points in the last four minutes, while a Sam Brennan 3-pointer chalked up the only points for the Saints in the same time period as Morris led 16-15 after one quarter. CSS wasn't able to boost their field goal percentage in the second quarter, scoring only two field goals. However, Morris made only three field goals. Successful free throws by Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS), Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy), and Holly Peterson (Rochester, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville HS), and a 3-pointer by Leah Hamm (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS) helped keep the Saints in the game, and they ended up leading 24-23 at the end of the first half.
Second Half Spells Trouble for Saints
The second half of the game showed no improvement for either team, though the Cougars came out on top - barely. Morris went 6-28 from the field during the last 20 minutes, but the Saints only hit 2-of-27 attempted field goals. CSS was 0-for-11 from the field in the third quarter. Morris collected seven unanswered points to start the half and continued to push. Thanks to 11 successful free throws by the Saints, they managed to keep themselves within two points of the lead with three minutes left in the game. Free throws, proving to be the saving grace of the game, kept the Cougars just out of CSS' reach though, and Morris pulled out the 47-39 victory.
Top Performers for CSS
Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) went 5-for-6 from the free throw line. She and Peterson were the team's top scorers, tallying eight points a piece. Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) led CSS in rebounds with eight.
Top Performers for Morris
Elli Stevenson led the team in points with 13, and went 8-of-10 on free throws. Kendra Raths pulled in 12 rebounds.
Up Next
The Saints (8-13, 5-7 UMAC) take on Crown College tomorrow at the Reif Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. Catch the action live on Saints Sports Net.
