HILO, Hawaii – The Luther College women's basketball team may very well be time travelers. After a disappointing overtime loss to Lake Forest College on Sunday, the Norse reversed their fortunes Monday afternoon. Fueled by 20+ point performances from Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) and Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW), Luther earned its first overtime win of the season, downing Grove City College by a final score of 85-73. With the win, the Norse overall record stands at 8-4 and Luther is 3-1 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play.
SCRATCH THAT, REVERSE
The first and second quarters were like flip flops in the sand, as neither the Norse nor Greyhounds could gain any traction for a substantial lead. Luther was dominant early in the first, as the team raced out to an 8-4 lead on baskets from Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) and Jordan Rubie (Winona, Minn. / Cotter); however, the Norse couldn't quite squash Grove City, as the Greyhounds eventually went on a 4-0 run to tie the game at 8-8. From that moment on, the two teams traded leads and baskets, drawing to a 15-15 tie at the end of the first. The second quarter was eerily similar, though this time it was Grove City that jumped to a four point lead at 21-17. Strong defense and post play from Luther allowed the team to tie the game at 21-21 before the Norse closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to give themselves a 31-29 halftime lead.
Bolstered by its strong play to end the first half, Luther opened the third quarter with a hot hand, specifically Lizzie Kauls (North Oak, Minn. / Mounds View). The senior played a big role in the Norse surge, guiding them to a 41-36 lead midway through the third quarter. Much like the first and second, though, Luther was unable to quash the Greyhounds, as the visitors once again used a late run to even the score at 43-43. Still, it looked like the Norse managed to get through the third unscathed, as they used baskets by Chelin Isaacson (Superior, Colo. / Monarch) and Kauls to regain a 47-43 advantage. Luther's defenses, though, were unable to hold, as Grove City held a slim 50-49 lead over the Norse entering the final quarter.
Turns out, the fourth quarter wouldn't be the final quarter, as Luther and the Greyhounds played to a 68-68 tie, resulting in the Norse's second overtime game of the trip. Still, it looked like Luther might avoid the extra time, as the Norse led by as many as five points at 61-56 before Kauls free throws in the closing seconds gave her team a 68-65 advantage. A last second three-pointer by Grove City, though, sent the game into OT, where Luther was clearly the better team from start to finish. Though the Greyhounds were the first to score during the extra five minutes, the Norse outscored their opponents 17-5, seemingly cruising to a 85-73 overtime victory.
TOP NORSE
- Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) put up career numbers in Luther's overtime victory, tallying a career-high 26 points on 9-14 shooting, including a 7-9 mark from the charity stripe. Kauls would also record eight rebounds and one block in the game.
- Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW) put up big numbers for the Norse Monday afternoon, tallying her fourth double-double of the season, scoring a season and career-high 24 points to go along with a team-leading 15 rebounds in the win.
- Emilee Burcham-Scofield (Menominee, Wis. / Colfax) tallied a career-high nine rebounds in the victory, while Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) lead the team with four assists.
UP NEXT
The Norse will enjoy a few weeks off before returning to the Regents Center for their next contest. Luther will host Gustavus Adolphus College on Saturday, December 30 in its final game before the new year. Tip off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Decorah, Iowa.
