Notables
-Northwestern was unbeaten in the conference coming into the matchup
-Head Coach Stacy Deadrick now has 300 career wins
-First three-game win streak of the season for CSS
-Saints now lead the series 44-39
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) -- The St. Scholastica women's basketball team defeated the University of Northwestern (Minn.) on Saturday by a score of 60-50 at Reif Gymnasium, giving head coach
Stacy Deadrick her 300th coaching victory.
First Half
Chelsea Swatek (Cromwell, Minn./Cromwell HS) opened the scoring for the Saints with a 3-pointer. The Eagles (7-6, 4-1 UMAC) responded soon after with a layup before
Michala Walther (Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy) added another 3-pointer for the Saints.
The Saints would hold the lead throughout the quarter until there were just over two minutes remaining, when Northwestern made a jumper to make it 12-11 in favor of the Eagles. CSS responded with a jumper by
Taylor Nowling (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) to make it 13-12 before Northwestern added a jumper with a minute remaining in the quarter to regain the lead and make it 14-13.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the second quarter off a jumper to increase their lead to three points. The Saints then went on a six-point run to make it 19-16 in favor of CSS. The Eagles responded with a layup before CSS went on another six-point run to make it 25-18 with five minutes remaining in the half. Walther and
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) combined for eight of the 12 points during that span.
Northwestern added a 3-pointer and CSS added a jumper to finish the half at 27-21 in favor of the Saints.
Second Half
The Saints opened the scoring in the second half with a Swatek layup to increase their lead to eight, before Northwestern cut it back to six off a layup.
The Saints maintained at least a five-point lead for most of the third quarter and closed the period with an 8-0 run to take a 13-point lead in the final frame.
The Eagles opened up the fourth quarter with a layup to make it 49-40 in favor of the Saints.
Rashonna Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS (Anoka-Ramsey CC)) added a pair of free throws for the Saints to increase their lead to 11.
Northwestern came close to overtaking the Saints, cutting their lead to five points with just over three minutes remaining. However,
Rashonna Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS (Anoka-Ramsey CC)) added a 3-pointer and
Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) converted a layup to increase CSS' lead to 10.
That would be the final margin as the Saints snapped a four-game losing streak to the Eagles with a 60-50 victory.
Notable Performances for CSS
Three Saints reached double figures as Swatek had 15, Walther had 13, and Thomas added 12. VanKempen recorded seven rebounds, while Cieluch and
Rachel Weyenberg (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) both had five. VanKempen also recorded four blocks.
Notable Performances for the Opponent
Rio Landers led the Eagles in scoring with 14 points while Alex Peterson and Taryn Tumbleson both had 10.
Up Next
The Saints (7-6, 3-3 UMAC) travel to Michigan on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup against Finlandia University. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
