Notables
-Game featured the matchup of the VanKempen sisters (Holly-CSS, Abby-UMM)
-CSS trailed by 15 in the fourth quarter, but had a chance to tie it in the final 30 seconds
-Both teams shot only 59 percent from the free throw line

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DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team held the University of Minnesota Morris to 23 points and 23 percent shooting in the first half, but the Cougars responded with 23 points in the third quarter alone and held off the Saints late to win 68-62 on Saturday at the Reif Gymnasium.
 
Low Scoring First Half
The Saints held the Cougars to 2-of-18 shooting in the first quarter and led 14-9 after one. CSS was sparked in the quarter when Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) made a jumper over younger sister Abby VanKempen. The Saints went on an 8-0 run after that bucket.
 
Morris scored the first nine points of the second quarter to take an 18-14 lead. Both teams then over a three-minute stretch without scoring as the Cougars held the lead into halftime up 23-20. Morris outscored the Saints 10-4 in the paint in the second quarter.
 
Morris' Big Third Quarter
The Cougars, who scored 23 points in all of the first half, went on to score 23 points in the third period alone to widen their lead from three to 13 at 46-33. St. Scholastica trailed by only three with three minutes left in the quarter, but Morris drained three 3-pointers in the final two minutes, including one at the buzzer to make it a 13-point game.
 
CSS' Late Rally Comes Up Short
Morris led by 15 points with six minutes remaining and CSS trailed by 11 with three minutes remaining. The Saints then got a 3-pointer from VanKempen and later anther 3-pointer by Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) with 40 seconds left to cut the lead to four. The Cougars were helping the Saints out by missing four free throws during that stretch.
 
After going 1-for-2 at the line, the Saints had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining, but the tying attempt was off the mark. The Cougars then went 4-for-4 at the charity stripe to seal the game 68-62.
 
Top Performances for CSS
Walther had 12 points to lead the Saints scoring. Mel Weisbrick (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS (Hibbing CC)) added 11 points. VanKempen grabbed seven boards and added seven points.
 
Top Performances for the Opponent
Mauren Thiesen had 18 points to pace the Cougars (10-5, 7-1 UMAC). Thiesen was 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. Elli Stevenson added 15 points and Kendra Raths had a double-double of 15 points and 14 rebounds. Abby VanKempen finished with six points and eight rebounds.
 
Up Next
The Saints (4-11, 3-5 UMAC) remain at home next weekend and will welcome the University of Northwestern (Minn.) to the Reif Gymnasium on Friday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The action can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.