Notables:
-Northwestern out-scored the Saints 16-2 in the final seven minutes
-The Eagles have won four straight over Saints and four straight games at the Reif
-Points in the Paint: UNW-44, CSS-16
-CSS' Swanson had a career-high 14 rebounds

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DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica women's basketball team could not hold on to an 11-point lead in the final seven minutes as the University of Northwestern (Minn.) rallied for the 64-61 victory on Friday at the Reif Gymnasium.

The Action
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) got things started out for the Saints in the first quarter with a good, two-point layup. It was a high-scoring back-and-forth opening period as there were five ties and four lead changes. Both taems went over 20 points as the Saints held a 24-22 edge heading into the second. Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) and Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) each had seven points in the period.

The Saints would continue to lead throughout the second, scoring ten more points this quarter, including one three-pointer. St. Scholastica's biggest lead was nine points in the second quarter following a Cieluch layup. With Northwestern only scoring seven points in the period, CSS led with 34-29 at halftime.

A Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) 3-pointer in the third quarter extended the Saints lead to 12. However, the Eagles responded with a 9-0 run to cut the lead back to three. CSS continued to lead entering the fourth quarter by a score of 52-48.

The Saints seemed to be in control with seven minutes to play and up 11 following a Cieluch 3-pointer. Northwestern did not score its first basket until there was six minutes remaining in the game. However, the Saints went scoreless for nearly the rest of the game as the Eagles went on a 14-0 run until there was about 10 seconds remaining. With the Saints trailing by three, the tying 3-point attempt was off the mark, but Kayla Swanson (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) grabbed the rebound and scored to cut it back to one with 10 seconds to go. 

Northwestern then converted a pair of free throws to make it a 3-point lead again, but CSS had a chance to tie it with three seconds remaining. Unfortunately, the Saints mishandled the in-bounds pass and the Eagles prevailed 64-61.

Top Performers
Cieluch recorded a career-high 18 points. Walther added 14 points and Brannen chipped in 12 points. Swanson grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds. 

Amy Berglund led the Eagles (11-6, 7-2 UMAC) with a game-high 23 points. 

Up Next
The Saints (4-12, 3-6 UMAC) will host North Central University (Minn.) for Alumni Day tomorrow at the Reif Gymnasium. Tip time is scheduled for 3 p.m.