DECORAH, Iowa – The New Year is treating the Luther College women's basketball team very well. After a disappointing loss to close 2022, the Norse rebounded in the best way possible, opening 2023 with a resounding 68-62 upset of #19 Loras College. With the win, Luther's overall record improves to 9-5 and the Norse are now 4-1 in American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play.
DOWNED DUHAWKS
The first ten minutes were filled with intensity, as Luther gave #19 Loras everything it was worth in the opening quarter. In fact, the Norse were the better team in the first 10 minutes of play, as red-hot shooting from the perimeter helped Luther gain a 21-19 advantage. In fact, four different Norse scored from three-point range in the first quarter, while Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW) scored eight inside the paint to bolster Luther's impressive run.
The Norse continued to pound the paint in the second quarter, racing out to a 38-28 lead with a little over three minutes remaining in the first half. However, the Duhawks used the final three minutes to whittle Luther's lead down to 38-35 before cutting it to one point at the 1:50 mark. In the final minute, the Norse ran into foul trouble, as back-to-back-to-back offensive fouls resulted in three consecutive possessions for Loras. In those possessions, the Duhawks managed to take a 39-38 lead before Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) took matters into her own hands. The sophomore drained a three from the elbow with 33 seconds remaining, giving the Norse a 41-39 advantage. Loras would tie it with two seconds on the clock, resulting in a 41-41 halftime tie.
The third and fourth quarters lived up to expectations and the very high bar set by the first and second. While a much more defensive battle, Luther outscored Loras 12-8, extending its lead to 53-49 and setting the stage for the fourth and final quarter. And what a fourth quarter it was. The Norse raced out to a nine point lead at 61-50 thanks to clutch baskets from Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) and Kate Hosking (Slinger, Wis. / Slinger). However, the Duhawks, and a scoreboard malfunction, made things interesting. After a scoring drought and a 10 minute delay, Loras managed to cut Luther's lead to 64-62 with exactly 2:02 remaining in regulation. It was no harm, no foul for the Norse, as Kauls and Jones cemented victory for Luther with multiple clutch baskets in the closing seconds. Jones layup under the basket secured a four point lead at 66-62 before Kauls sunk two free throws in with under 15 seconds to secure the 68-62 win for the Norse.
TOP NORSE
- Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW) recorded a double-double before the end of the first half and closed the game with a team-leading 14 points and 15 rebounds. The sophomore also shot 7-10 from the floor and contributed three assists and a steal to Luther's victory.
- Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) also recorded a double-double, as her second half surge helped her close the game with 13 points and 11 rebounds.
- Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) was the Norse top three-point shooter, shooting 3-6 from beyond the arc and closing the game with 13 total points.
UP NEXT
Luther will hit the road for its next A-R-C contest, as the Norse are slated to face Simpson College Saturday, January 7. Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. in Indianola, Iowa.
