Notables
-Cieluch matched a career-high with 11 rebounds for her second career double-double
-Points in the Paint: CSS-30, FIN-8
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's basketball team out-scored Finlandia University (Mich.) 21-7 in the second quarter and then held the Lions to three points in the fourth period to win 61-35 on Wednesday at the Reif Gymnasium.
The Action
Both teams struggled to find the hoop early as the score stood at 2-2 until
Taylor Nowling (Mora, Minn./Mora HS) banked in a 3-pointer with 3:30 remaining in the opening quarter. The Lions (5-18) scored the final five points of the period to lead 9-7 at the end of the first quarter.
A 3-pointer to begin the second quarter extended the lead to five. CSS then found senior
Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS), who scored six straight points which ultimately led to an 11-0 run to give St. Scholastica a six-point lead with five minutes remaining in the first half. VanKempen had nine of the 11 points during the run.
Later, the Saints finished the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 28-16 at the half. VanKempen and junior
Danielle Cieluch (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) combined for 18 of CSS' 21 points in the second quarter.
St. Scholastica kept it rolling in the second half with an 11-0 run in the third quarter to extend the margin to 20. Finlandia then made only one field goal in the fourth quarter as the Saints won going away 61-35.
Top Performances for CSS
VanKempen finished with a game-high 18 points. Cieluch had her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 11 rebounds, while also dishing out five assists. Junior
Rashonna Thomas (Minneapolis, Minn./Columbia Heights HS (Anoka-Ramsey CC)) finished with nine points and a season-high six steals.
Top Performances for the Opponent
Molly Berg led the Lions with 12 points.
Up Next
The Saints (12-10) travel to the University of Northwestern (Minn.) Saturday for a key Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) contest. Action is slated to begin at 5 p.m.
