Fourth-Quarter Spurt Lifts St. Norbert Past Lawrence

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, January 31, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

APPLETON - St. Norbert College scored Lawrence University 20-6 in the decisive fourth quarter as the Green Knights won for the sixth time in their last seven games with a 61-48 Midwest Conference win over the Vikings at Alexander Gym.

The win pulled St. Norbert (8-12, 7-6 MWC) to within one game of third place in the Midwest Conference standings. The Green Knights trail Knox College and Lake Forest College, who are both 8-5 in league play. The win also moved coach Connie Tilley into sole possession of sixth place for most wins by an NCAA Division III women's basketball coach with 690.

The Green Knights trailed 42-41 entering the fourth quarter before starting the final period on a 14-2 run to take control. Macie Zurfluh, the reigning MWC Player of the Week, got things started with a 3-pointer. Lawrence's Kenya Earl knotted the game for the 11th and final time for a 44-44 score on a bucket with 8:30 remaining.

St. Norbert would score the next 11 points. Christine Olijnyk had a pair of baskets sandwiched around a Hanna Ciesielczyk hoop. Zurfluh canned another 3-pointer with 6:08 to, forcing Lawrence to ask for time with 6:04 to play. Zurfluh's basket with 5:16 left increased the Green Knights' bulge to 55-44. Lawrence would cut the deficit down to 55-48 with 1:29 remaining, but would get no closer.

The two teams went back and forth the first 10 minutes, with Lawrence holding a 14-13 edge at the end of the first quarter. The Green Knights would open the second quarter on an 11-1 run, fueled by a conventional three-point play from Sarah Ratajczyk. St. Norbert carried a 27-24 lead into halftime.

The third quarter featured six times and three lead changes, with the largest lead a 35-31 St. Norbert edge at the 4:47 mark. Arianna Neumeyer's basket with 36 seconds left in the quarter gave the Vikings a 42-41 edge after 30 minutes.

St. Norbert shot 40 percent (24-for-60) from the floor. Zurfluh led the Green Knights with 19 points and nine rebounds. Ratajczyk added 14 points and seven rebounds.

Lawrence shot 35.3 percent (18-for-51) from the floor. Earl totaled 16 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Vikings.