Hot Start Lifts St. Norbert Past Illinois College

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, February 2, 2019 | Women's Basketball
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

DE PERE - St. Norbert College jumped out to a 12-0 lead and used that as the impetus behind taking control in a 72-49 win over Illinois College in a Midwest Conference game on Connie Tilley Court at Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center.

The Green Knights (9-12, 8-6 MWC) won for the seventh time in their last eight games.

Christine Olijnyk and Sarah Ratajczyk each made a pair of free throws to give St. Norbert a 4-0 lead. Olivia DeCleene then canned consecutive 3-pointers and Olijnyk followed with a hoop for a 12-0 edge just three minutes into the game. The Lady Blues trimmed the deficit down to six points before an Olijnyk basket gave St. Norbert a 19-11 lead after the first quarter.

Illinois College would get back to within seven points at 21-14 at the 7:48 mark of the second quarter, but St. Norbert would go on a 10-2 run to open its lead up to 17 points at 33-16 with 4:06 left before the half. Ali Hoeft had six points during the run, while Macie Zurfluh added the other four. St. Norbert took a 36-18 lead into halftime.

St. Norbert opened up a 21-point lead at 41-20 with 8:10 left in the third quarter on a Sarah Ratajczyk hoop, but the Lady Blues would get to within 52-39 at the end of the third quarter. The Green Knights held a 55-42 lead with 8:50 remaining, but a 7-0 run by St. Norbert took the mystery out of the outcome.

St. Norbert shot 45.3 percent from the floor, making 29 of 64 field-goal attempts. The Green Knights also held a commanding 46-24 rebounding advantage. Zurfluh led St. Norbert with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals. DeCleene added 16 points, while Olijnyk added 14 points. Hoeft finished with 11 points, while Ratajczyk added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Illinois College shot 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the floor. Carly Cameron led the Lady Blues with 18 points and eight rebounds.