MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - In the overtime period the Luther women's basketball team dominated the floor. As a team they went 5-6 from the floor, perfect from beyond the arc and 8-11 at the line to win 88-80 over North Central (MN) on Tuesday. Six players recorded double-digit efforts including Kailey Jones, Amelia Solum, Lizzie Kauls, Kate Hosking, Jordan Rubie and Haylie Strum. For the Norse the win streak extends to eight as they improve to 8-4 overall and 3-1 in the American Rivers Conference. 

It was a thrilling game from start to finish as there were 14 lead changes and 11 times the score was tied. After one quarter of play the Norse had carved out a eight point lead after the steal by Strum and a three-pointer from Hosking for a 21-13 advantage. 

In the second quarter the Rams began to slowly chip away at the Norse lead. However, Luther was holding off North Central until they pulled within two at 26-24 with 2:17 left on the clock. The Norse proceeded on 8-2 run to close the half. As the teams headed into the locker room Luther held the 34-26 edge. 

Midway through the third Luther had their largest lead of the game at nine points off the three-pointer from Solum ahead 42-33. The Rams roared back using a 9-0 run to erase the Norse lead with 3:32 in the quarter. As the clock continued to wind down the period saw three lead changes and two ties but Luther was up by one at 52-51 thanks to free throws from Jones.

In the final quarter of regulation Kauls found Kenlin Schmitt for the layup to go up by five at 60-55 with 5:40 to go. The game was far from over as the Rams stayed with the Norse taking over the lead by one at 65-64. Sturm put Luther up by one possession at 67-65 under a minute to play. With 11 seconds in regulation a pair of free throws from Solum put the Norse up by three 69-66. However, North Central tied it at 69 with a three-pointer forcing the game into overtime. 

Luther and North Central traded points back and forth until the teams were knotted up at 80 with 1:13 to play. Then the Norse started their 8-0 run to close out the game with a layup from Rubie. As a team put up big offensive numbers shooting 83.3 percent from the field, 100 percent from beyond the arc and 72.7 at the line for their eighth win in a row. 

The Norse rebounded better than the Rams 58-34. Luther this season is 4-1 vs opponents from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. 

TOP NORSE

• Jones 16 points and set a season high of 21 rebounds. She matched her career high from last season against Central on Jan. 14, 2023. 
• Solum chipped in 14 points for the second most on the team. 
• Kauls posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She also set a season high of four steals. 
• Hosking and Rubie had 12 points each. 
• Strum 11 points, eight rebounds and a team leading seven assists. 

UP NEXT
The Norse will conclude their non-conference schedule with Carthage College on Saturday, Dec. 30 at home. Tipoff is at 2 pm in the Regents Center.