Notables
-CSS never led in the contest
-Saints scored a season-high 80 points
-Points in the Paint: FIN-38, CSS-22
-Finlandia has won three of its last four games
HANCOCK, Mich. (
csssaints.com) – For the third time in series history, the St. Scholastica women's basketball team was looking for its sixth straight win at Finlandia University (Mich.) and for the third time it was denied as the Lions upended the Saints 84-80 on Wednesday.
The Action
The Lions' (4-12) largest lead of the first half was 10, which was the halftime margin 46-36.
Finlandia then led by as much 18 points with six minutes remaining in the third. CSS quickly got it down to 10 and trailed 65-54 at the end of the third.
The Saints then scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to cut the margin to four. Later in the fourth
Chelsea Swatek (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell HS),
Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) and
Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) hit consecutive 3-pointers and it was a two-point Finlandia lead with under six minutes remaining.
With the margin at three, St. Scholastica had numerous chances to tie the game, but could not get a shot to drop. The Lions finally broke the nearly three-minute scoring drought with a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 77-71 with 2:42 remaining.
CSS got only as close as four the rest of the way as Finlandia held on for the 84-80 victory.
Top Performances for CSS
Walther had 19 points to pace the Saints.
Rashonna Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS (Anoka-Ramsey CC)) had 16 points, a team-high seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Swatek finished with 18 points and Cieluch added 11 points.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Julia Daavettila recorded a game-high 25 points and added 11 rebounds for a double-double. Kelsie Richards also had a double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Up Next
The Saints (7-7) are back at home on Saturday and back in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) action when they face Crown College at 5 p.m. in the Reif Gymnasium.
