Notables
-CSS' 41 first-half points were a season-high
-Second Chance Points: CSS-12, CC-0
-Concordia had won the previous six meetings in the series
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team knocked off Concordia College-Moorhead for the first time in program history on Sunday by a final of 66-63 in non-conference action at the Reif Gymnasium.
Saints Hold on Late
The Saints built up a 17-point lead early in the second half. However, the Cobbers (5-5) responded with an 11-0 run to cut the margin to six.
Chelsea Swatek (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell HS) then scored four straight points and the Saints extended the lead back to 11.
Concordia ended the third quarter on a 7-0 run to cut the margin to 52-49 to begin the fourth. The Cobbers got it down to two until the Saints scored five straight points to make it a seven-point game again. The Saints held a 3-point lead with 4:28 remaining when both teams went scoreless for over two minutes.
A Concordia layup made the score 60-59 with two minutes remaining. On the ensuing possession the Saints got a couple of offensive rebounds and Swatek found
Maddy Halley (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS) for the layup to make it 62-59. After free throw attempts on both ends of the court CSS led by four with under 20 seconds remaining.
Concordia would get fouled on a 3-point attempt and converted all three free throws to once again make it a one-point game.
Sam Brannen (Ramsey, Minn./Anoka HS) would get fouled with eight seconds left and hit both free throws for the Saints to make it 66-63. The Cobbers would get a good look at a tying 3-pointer, but it was off the mark. They got the offensive rebound and one last chance, but
Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) blocked it as time expired to give the Saints the 66-63 victory.
First Half
Concordia led for only 14 seconds in the contest as the Saints scored the first seven points of the game, five of which coming from
Rashonna Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS (Anoka-Ramsey CC)). The Cobbers responded with a 9-0 run to take its only lead of the game.
CSS finished the first half by scoring the final 11 points. Brannen scored six of those 11 points. St. Scholastica shot 50 percent from the floor in the first half and scored 20 points off of 12 Concordia turnovers.
Top Performances for CSS
Walther led the Saints with 15 points, 10 of which came in the first half. Swatek scored 12 points, while Thomas and Brannen each added 10 points. Walther and
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) each grabbed a team-high six rebounds.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Grace Wolhowe led all scorers with 23 points for the Cobbers. Mira Ellefson added 12 points off the bench.
Up Next
The Saints (5-6) return to Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action on Wednesday when it travels to face Martin Luther College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
