St. Norbert Pulls Away From Red Hawks in Second Half

From Sports Information Director, January 14, 2014 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College used an offensively efficient second half to pull away from Ripon College in a 71-48 win in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (10-3, 7-1 MWC) led 26-20 at halftime before shooting 51.9 percent (14-for-27) from the floor in the second half to register 45 points in the final 20 minutes of action.

St. Norbert led 31-27 early in the second half before going on a 9-0 run over a 2:20 stretch to take control. Lana Tomashek hit a jumper to start the run, followed by a 3-pointer from Jill Kleiman. Stephanie Weigman then closed out the skein with a pair of baskets, the last for a 40-27 edge with 15:05 to play.

The Red Hawks (5-8, 5-3) cut the deficit down to nine points at 42-33 with 11:43 to play, but Brianna Byrne connected on a pair of free throws on St. Norbert's next possession, and the Green Knights never led by less than 10 points the rest of the game.

Ripon did hold an early lead at 11-5, but St. Norbert went on an 12-3 run to take a 17-14 advantage with 8:00 left in the half. The Red Hawks scored those three points over a 8:01 stretch.

Byrne led St. Norbert with 16 poitns off the bench. Tasha Giese added 10 points and five rebounds for the Green Knights. Kleiman and Morgan Heim both had nine points for St. Norbert, which shot 47.8 percent (22-for-46) from the floor overall.

Chelsea Sorbo was the only Ripon player to reach double figures with 12 points. The Red Hawks shot 20-for-48 (41.7 percent) from the floor and had 23 turnovers.