Green Knights Lose Nailbiter to UW-Eau Claire

From Sports Information Director, November 22, 2011 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College saw its 45-game regular-season home winning streak snapped in a 49-44 non-conference loss to UW-Eau Claire in a non-conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (2-2) and Blugolds (3-1) were tied at 44-44 with 2 minutes 2 seconds remaining when St. Norbert's Krista Hawkinson squared the game with a driving layup. Both teams had an empty possession, and Eau Claire's Laura Olson canned a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left following an offensive rebound.

St. Norbert missed its first shot to tie and had an offensive rebound, but couldn't get the game-tying basket. Sarah Bingea's two free throws with 1.6 seconds left sealed the win for the Blugolds.

Eau Claire led 23-16 at halftime before the Green Knights opened the second half on a 10-1 run to take a 26-24 lead. St. Norbert could never get its lead higher than two points, with its last lead coming at 40-39 with 4:53 left. Olson's 3-pointer with 4:14 to go gave the Blugolds a 42-40 lead.

Tasha Giese led St. Norbert with 13 points, while Krista Hawkinson and Jamie Kuhl had 10 points apiece. The Green Knights shot 30.4 percent from the floor, making 14 of 46 shots.

Bingea led Eau Claire with 14 points. The Blugolds shot 40 percent (16-for-40) from the floor.