Green Knights Big First Half Extinguishes Prairie Fire

From Sports Information Director, January 16, 2009 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GALESBURG, Ill. - A 33-4 run over the last 15 minutes of the first half was more than enough to lift St. Norbert College to an 83-34 win over Knox College in a Midwest Conference game at Memorial Gym.

St. Norbert improved to 8-4 overall and 4-1 in the MWC with the win, which was head coach Connie Tilley's 496th of her career. Knox fell to 3-9, 1-5.

The Green Knights held an 11-10 lead with 14 minutes 57 seconds left in the first half after Knox's Lynn Mueller canned a pair of free throws. From the St. Norbert went on a 21-0 run from there over the next 10 minutes, taking a 32-10 lead. Jamie Kuhl's jumper started the big run, followed by a steal and a layup by Stefanie Bunday. St. Norbert continued to probe Knox's 2-3 zone defense before settling on a 42-14 lead at halftime.

St. Norbert went on a 20-8 run to start the second half, taking a 40-point lead at 62-22 with 12:52 left on an Emily Otzelberger basket. The Green Knights led by as many as 54 points at 83-29 with 2:10 left to play.

Bunday scored a career-high 16 points and also had four steals. Amy Brunner poured in a career-high 14 points and also had a team-high eight rebounds. Morgan Strasser added 14 points for the Green Knights, who shot 44.8 (30-for-67) percent from the floor. St. Norbert outrebounded Knox 43-31 and had just 12 turnovers.

Knox shot 31 percent from the floor, making 13 of 42 shots. Kate Moon led the Prairie Fire with eight points. Knox finished the game with 32 turnovers.