Tale of Two Halves for Green Knights at Carroll

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, December 20, 2018 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

WAUKESHA - It was the best of times and it was the worst of times for St. Norbert College in a Dickensian 66-59 loss to Carroll University in a non-conference game at Van Male Fieldhouse.

The Green Knights held a 33-16 lead at halftime, only to see the host Pioneers turn the tables in the second half with a 50-26 advantage in a game featuring the proverbial tale of two halves.

St. Norbert came out hot to start the game jumping out to a 10-0 lead just 3 1/2 minutes in. Sarah Neumann and Sarah Ratajczyk scored to start for the Green Knights, followed by 3-pointers form Macie Zurfluh and Christine Olijnyk. The Pioneers trimmed their deficit to 10-5 but St. Norbert eventually led 18-5 before settling on an 18-8 lead after the first quarter.

Carroll trailed 24-16 about halfway through the second quarter before the Green Knights closed the period on a 9-0 run. Hannah Ciesielczyk made a pair of free throws, followed by baskets from Neumann and Jessica Boerner. A Zurfluh 3-pointer in the final minute of the half gave the Green Knights a 33-16 lead at intermission.

The Green Knights led 38-21 with 7:47 left in the third quarter following a Neumann layup. St. Norbert maintained a 10-point lead at 42-32 with 3:46 left in the period after a Zurfluh basket, but then Carroll marshaled its huge rally. The Pioneers cut their deficit down to 42-38 before an Olijnyk basket gave St. Norbert a 44-38 lead after the third quarter.

Carroll swung momentum its way for good opening the fourth quarter on an 10-0 run, with Katie Rossetti's basket giving the Pioneers a 48-44 lead with 7:40 to play. Olivia DeCleene's basket with 4:36 to go brought St. Norbert to within 53-51, but Carroll scored the next 11 points to salt the game away.

St. Norbert shot 25-for-65 (38.5 percent) from the floor. Olijnyk had a team-high 14 points, while Neumann and Zurfluh added 10 points apiece.

Carroll shot 21-for-58 (36.2 percent) from the floor, rebounding from a 5-for-29 showing in the first half to drain 8 of 12 shots in the fourth quarter. The Pioneers also connected on 9 of 13 three-point field goal attempts in the final 20 minutes. Theresa Wichser led the Pioneers with 18 points.