MOUNT VERNON, Iowa  – When in doubt, call Luther College women's basketball's Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View). The senior forward nearly single handedly brought about the Norse comeback Sunday afternoon, as she guided Luther to an impressive 44-43 comeback over Cornell College with her second double-double of the 2022-23 season. The win brings the Norse back into the win column, as their overall record improved to 4-1. 

KEEP IT CLOSE
Luther had plenty of ground to make up after the opening two quarters of play, as the Norse trailed 23-17 after the opening 20 minutes of play. In fact, Luther's offense only managed to score single digit points in the first and second quarter, scoring just eight points on .200 shooting in the first quarter and nine on slightly improved .267 shooting in the second. In the third, though, the Norse finally managed to find their rhythm, as they reset the momentum with a Kate Hosking (Slinger, Wis. / Slinger) one minute into the second half. From there, Kauls led the charge for Luther, answering every Ram basket with one of her own. 

Still, even with Kauls doing her thing, the Norse couldn't crack Cornell's code, as the Rams continued to lead by four or five points throughout the third quarter. In the final three minutes, though, Luther finally managed to pull within a possession, as a Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) free throw pulled the Norse within three at 29-26. Grace Prokosch (Oakdale, Minn. / Hill-Murray) then made it a one point game, as her layup remaining made it 29-28 Rams with 1:49 remaining in the third before Luther took its first lead with 27 seconds left on a layup by Miller. 

The Norse were seemingly destined for victory at the start of the fourth quarter, as they raced out to a 34-29 lead courtesy of baskets from Miller and Kauls. However, Cornell continued to pester Luther both on defense and offense, as the Rams managed to whittle the lead down to 36-35 with 3:23 remaining in regulation. Still, the Norse remained calm, maintaining its lead at 40-37 until Cornell's Kali March drained three made it 40-40 with 1:11 left in the game. 

Luther never panicked, taking a 42-40 lead on free throws by Miller and Prokosch. However, things took a dire turn for the Norse at the eight second mark, as March drained her second three in roughly a minute to give the Rams a 43-42 advantage. Head coach Amanda Bailey called time, advancing the ball to Luther's side of the court and drawing up a play for the Norse offense. Luther ran the play to perfect, as Kauls found the ball under the basket and drained the game-winning layup at the buzzer to secure the 44-43 victory for the Norse. 

TOP NORSE

• Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) led Luther in nearly every stat Sunday afternoon, tallying her second double-double of the season, and second in three games, with a team-leading 15 points and career-high 16 rebounds for the Norse. 
• Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) added eight points and four assists for Luther in the win.

UP NEXT
The Norse will return to action on Tuesday, November 22  as they open the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) schedule at Coe College. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.