Hot Start Paces Green Knights Past Pioneers

From Sports Information Director, January 20, 2016 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College had a strong first half and used that as the springboard to a 62-41 win over Carroll University in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Schuldes Sports Center.

The Green Knights (11-4, 10-0 MWC) led just 10-6 after the first quarter but used a boffo second quarter to seal the win over the Pioneers (5-9, 4-5). St. Norbert outscored Carroll 25-5 over the final 10 minutes of the first half to take a 35-11 halftime lead.

St. Norbert led 8-0 to start the game, fueled by 3-pointers from Brianna Byrne and Regan Carmichael. Heidi Van Sistine's layup finished the run, which ended when Carroll got its first points at the 3:12 mark of the first quarter.

The Pioneers trailed 17-10 with 5:36 left in the second quarter before St. Norbert went on an 18-1 run to close out the period. Van Sistine had a conventional three-point play at the 4:13 mark and Jill Kleiman canned a 3-pointer on the Green Knights' next possession for a 26-10 lead. Rachel Hagge's triple with 29 seconds left in the half sent St. Norbert into the locker room with a 35-11 lead.

Carroll got to within 22 points in the third quarter and to within 20 points in the final stanza, but the Pioneers would not get any closer.

St. Norbert shot 42.6 percent from the floor, making 26 of 61 field-goal attempts. The Green Knights also held a commanding 46-26 rebounding advantage. Carmichael led the Green Knights with 12 points and Mallory Nickerson added 10 points. Byrne and Kleiman had nine points apiece.

Carroll shot 32.0 percent (16-for-50) from the floor. Emma Kopp led the Pioneers with 14 points and Malory Christenson finished with 10 points.