St. Norbert Grinds Past Ripon

From Sports Information Director, January 26, 2016 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

RIPON - St. Norbert Colleges hot just 33.3 percent form the floor but used a 19-point advantage at the free-throw line to post a 69-60 win over Ripon College in a Midwest Conference game at Storzer Center.

The Green Knights (13-4, 12-0 MWC) improved to 40-1 in their last 41 games against Midwest Conference opponents with the win.

St. Norbert was just 20-for-60 from the floor in the game, but converted 24 of 37 (64.9 percent) free-throw attempts compared to just 5-for-12 (41.7 percent) for Ripon.

The Green Knights were just 8 of 30 (26.7 percent) from the floor in the first half but crept to a 26-21 halftime lead. St. Norbert led 12-10 after the first quarter but the went on a 10-3 run over the first 3:14 of the second quarter to take a 20-15 lead on a Maggie Oimoen basket at the 6:46 mark.

St. Norbert answered with a 10-0 run to take a 25-20 lead late in the second quarter. Stephanie Weigman connected on a pair of baskets, while Brianna Byrne converted a free throw and a 3-pointer for a 23-20 lead. Kyra VandenHeuvel's free throw at the 2:47 mark pushed the lead to 25-20 for St. Norbert, which led 26-21 at the break.

The Green Knights opened the third quarter on a 6-0 run, keyed by a Byrne 3-pointer and a hoop by Mallory Nickerson for a 32-21 lead at the 7:54 mark. The Red Hawks got to within four points three times late in the period, but Regan Carmichael's 3-pointer with 33 seconds left put St. Norbert ahead 45-38 after 30 minutes.

Ripon would get no closer than five points in the fourth quarter.

Weigman led St. Norbert with 17 points and eight rebounds. Byrne finished with 15 points, while Carmichael and Jill Kleiman had nine points apiece. Heidi Van Sistine had 10 rebounds with four points. The Green Knights held a 47-34 rebounding advantage.

Megan Jensen had 13 points to lead the Red Hawks, who shot 42.6 percent (26-for-61) from the floor. Jonalee Elliott added 12 points.