St. Norbert Grinds Past Illinois College in MWC Semifinal

From Sports Information Director, February 27, 2015 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College held Illinois College to just 14 made field goals as the Green Knights forged a 61-51 win over the Lady Blues in a Midwest Conference Tournament semifinal game on Connie Tilley Court at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (21-3) will face Cornell College at 3 p.m. Saturday at Schuldes Sports Center in the tournament championship.

The Lady Blues (14-10) had made just seven field goals in the first 34 minutes of the game as the Green Knights built a 25-point lead. St. Norbert held a 56-31 lead with 7:38 to go on a conventional three-point play by Heidi Van Sistine.

St. Norbert held a 7-5 lead out of the gate before going on a 13-3 run to take control. Brianna Byrne had a 3-pointer during the run, and Stephanie Weigman finished off the spurt with a jumper. Weigman had six points during the run.

The Green Knights went ahead 27-10 on a steal and layup by Rachel Hagge at the 7:22 mark. Van Sistine's putback at the halftime buzzer gave St. Norbert a 40-23 lead at intermission.

St. Norbert led 42-25 early in the second half before taking a 50-26 lead at the 13:12 mark after Byrne finished an 8-1 run over 4:22 on a jumper. The Lady Blues didn't get within 20 points until under five minutes remaining.

Byrne led St. Norbert with 20 points, while Van Sistine added 14 points. The Green Knights shot 50 percent from the floor, making 26 of 52 field-goal attempts.

Illinois College made 14 of 46 field-goal attempts (30.4 percent). Hannah McGinnis led the Lady Blues with 21 points. Jill Friedrich added 13 points and Melissa Solorio with 10 points.