Notables
-Swatek has scored in double-figures in three straight games
-Bench Points: CSS-25, NCU-3
-Second-Chance Points: CSS-20, NCU-4
-CSS improves to 17-0 all-time at home vs. North Central
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team held North Central University (Minn.) to only seven first half field goals as it defeated the Rams 60-48 on Wednesday in the Reif Gymnasium.
A Series of Runs
The Rams (2-5, 0-3 UMAC) opened the game by scoring the first eight points. St. Scholastica did not make its first field goal until over five minutes into the contest. Following a
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) free throw, a
Chelsea Swatek (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell HS) 3-pointer ignited a 13-0 run for the Saints. Swatek scored seven of the 13 points. CSS led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter.
North Central recorded only one field goal in the opening nine minutes of the second quarter as the Saints went on a 14-3 run to take a 26-11 lead. The Rams scored the final five points of the quarter as the score stood at 26-16 at the half.
The Saints went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter and led by as much as 19 with three minutes remaining in the third. The Rams finished the period strong again with a 10-0 run and trailed 43-33 to start the fourth quarter.
St. Scholastica opened the fourth period by scoring seven straight points and the Rams never got closer than 11 as the Saints prevailed 60-48 for their first conference win of the season.
Top Performances for CSS
Swatek finished with a season-high 18 points off the bench. Swatek was 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. VanKempen added 12 points.
Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) led the squad with 10 rebounds.
Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) had seven points, eight rebounds and four assists.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Lizzy Swanson and Haley Modahl each contributed 12 points. Bethany Shield chipped in 11 points.
Up Next
The Saints (4-4, 1-2 UMAC) will be at UMAC rival University of Minnesota Morris on Saturday to close out conference play before the New Year. Tip time is scheduled for 5 p.m.
