Saints top Vikings

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

Mankato, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women’s basketball team defeated the Vikings of Bethany Lutheran College by a score of 59-51 in a comeback victory where they trailed by 12 at halftime.

The first eight and a half minutes of this game saw a back and forth effort by both teams. There were six lead changes and three ties in the first 8:05 alone and with 11:55 remaining in the first half CSS was holding a one point lead at 17-16.

Bethany Lutheran would then go on a 13-2 run over roughly the next seven minutes to take a 29-19 lead with 4:03 to go in the half.

The Viking’s run was finally ended when Mariah Hovick (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) nailed a 3-pointer with 2:21 left to set the score at 29-22. Bethany Lutheran would end the half on another scoring run, however, as they scored seven of the last nine points to take a 36-24 halftime lead.

The double digit deficit remained for the Saints until, with 12:28 left in the game, CSS embarked on a 16-3 run to propel themselves back into the game at 51-48. The run for the Saints ended when Brittani Brennan (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) sunk a 3-point shot to give the Saints the lead at 51-48 with 5:30 to go.

CSS would then go on to end the game on an 8-3 run to put the game out of reach thus solidifying a 59-51 victory for their fourth conference win of the year.

The Saints were led by Hovick in scoring with 18 points, while Brennan and Holly VanKempen (Elbow Lake, Minn./West Central HS) led the way in rebounding with seven apiece.

CSS (7-11, 4-3 UMAC) will next be in action this Tuesday when it plays host to Northland College with that game set to tip off at 5:30 p.m. Come and support the Saints in person or catch all the action live at Saints Sports Net.

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