DECORAH, Iowa – It was not the Saturday the Luther College women's basketball team was hoping for. In a must win situation, the Norse battled to the very end of their American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) contest against Simpson College. Despite leading late in the game, Luther fell by a final score of 75-73 in the closing seconds of regulation. With the loss, the Norse are now 12-10 overall and 7-6 in A-R-C play.
BY THE NUMBERS
Luther managed to keep pace with Simpson through the early stages of the first quarter, as the two teams scored a combined 19 points in the first three minutes alone. However, the Norse offense stalled without Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW) and Lizzie Kauls (North Oaks, Minn. / Mounds View) on the floor. When the two forwards went out around the five minute mark, the Storm went on a 9-2 run, racing out to a 19-12 lead with roughly three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Thanks to baskets from Chelin Isaacson (Superior, Colo. / Monarch) and Grace Prokosch (Oakdale, Minn. / Hill-Murray) Luther managed to close the gap to 21-17 by the end of the first quarter.
The Norse looked to close the gap in the second quarter, but for every basket Luther made, Simpson answered with a three of its own. After six minutes of grueling, grinding basketball, Luther finally pulled within one at 37-36 on a jumper by Kate Hosking (Slinger, Wis. / Slinger). A possession later, Jones gave the Norse their first lead of the ball game, allowing Luther to hold a 40-39 halftime lead.
Things were just as tight in the second half as they were in the first, particularly in the third quarter. The Norse scored on their very first offensive possession, a three by Hosking, extending their lead to 43-49. However, back-to-back turnovers on offensive fouls allowed the Storm to tie the game at 43-43 before a slew of turnovers by Luther resulted in a 53-48 lead for Simpson at the five minute mark.
The Norse managed to pull within a possession entering the fourth and final quarter with the Storm leading 59-56. In the end, Luther turned out to be its own worst enemy. Every time the Norse got within striking distance of Simpson, they would commit a costly turnover, putting the ball right back into the hands of their opponent. Still, Luther battled, pulling within two at 70-68 on free throws by Jordan Rubie (Winona, Minn. / Cotter) before taking a 73-72 lead on a hook shot by Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian).
The lead would hold for nearly two whole minutes until Simpson hit a three with 5.3 remaining in regulation. Down 75-73, the Norse had one chance to tie with a two or win with a three. With 1.0 on the clock, Hosking found Kauls at the free throw line. The senior put up the shot and watched as it banked off the rim, resulting in a 75-73 victory for the Storm.
TOP NORSE
- Megan Miller (Urbandale, Iowa / Des Moines Christian) led the team in scoring Saturday afternoon, putting up 17 points with four rebounds and four assists.
- Kailey Jones (Avoca, Iowa / AHSTW) continued to be a rebounding machine for Luther. The sophomore recorded yet another double-double, scoring 15 points as a side dish to her 18 rebounds Saturday afternoon. Jones additionally tallied three assists and three steals.
- Kate Hosking (Slinger, Wis. / Slinger) closed the game with 13 points, one block and three steals.
UP NEXT
Luther will hit the road for its not two A-R-C contests, as the Norse are set to take on (RV) Loras College on Wednesday, February 8. Tip off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa.
