St. Norbert Pulls Away From Grinnell

From Sports Information Director, February 11, 2017 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GRINNELL, Iowa - St. Norbert College had a strong first half en route to a 59-44 win over Grinnell College in a Midwest Conference game at Darby Gym.

The Green Knights (16-5, 13-3 MWC) led 27-17 at halftime and never led by less than seven points in the second half.

St. Norbert trailed 9-2 just over three minutes into the game but went on a 10-0 run to close the first quarter to take a 12-9 lead after 10 minutes. Jill Kleiman started the run with a 3-pointer, followed by a free throw and basket by Brianna Byrne. Sarah Neumann then closed the run with a pair of baskets.

The Green Knights scored the first four points of the second quarter on a basket by Regan Carmichael and a pair of Kleiman free throws. Neumann's basket late in the second quarter gave St. Norbert a 27-17 halftime edge.

Grinnell cut its deficit to 34-27 halfway through the third quarter before St. Norbert went on an 8-0 run to effectively decide the outcome. Mallory Nickerson converted a conventional three-point play, followed by a basket from Byrne. Christine Olijnyk then canned a 3-pointer as the period ended for a 42-27 lead.

The Pioneers did get back to within seven points at 46-39 with 4:54 left, but the Green Knights wouldn't led the host any closer.

With a game-high 16 points, Byrne vaulted all the way to eighth place on the St. Norbert career scoring list with 1,174 points. Kleiman added 10 points for the Green Knights, who shot 38.6 percent (17-for-44) from the floor.

Grinnell shot 33.3 percent (16-for-48) form the floor. Kayla Morrissey led the Pioneers with 13 points and Sophia Gatton added 12 points.