Wartburg 83, UW-Superior 65
WAVERYLY, Iowa (December 29, 2017) – Superior got out in front in the first quarter against the No. 11 Wartburg Knights, but fell behind in the following three to take their second loss of the 2017-18 campaign at the Wartburg Holiday Tournament.
The 'Jackets got an early lead after Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) scored seven points in the opening six minutes. Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) would get in the mix at 6:27 on a layup, assisted by Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), and then the 'Jackets would open a 20-10 lead on the Knights, as Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled) drained a 3-pointer. The Knights would fight back though, as the buzzer sounded 22-19 on a Reinertsen layup.
The Knights continued their run into the second quarter, tying twice at 22-22, and then 24-24. Norlin would get her second layup of the game, cutting it to 28-26, and then again at 6:58 to get six total points. Kontny would score her 11th point of the half on an offensive rebounded ball, and then assisted by Jade Tucker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake). This would be the final bucket of the half for the Yellowjackets, down at halftime 44-32.
Norlin would open the half with a layup, assisted by Tucker at 9:22 of the third quarter, followed by a defensive rebound on the other end, and a Tucker basket, cutting it to eight points. Superior would keep fighting and get the Wartburg lead to three points after Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) drained one of her 3-pointers at 54-51, with 2:51 remaining in the third quarter. Norlin hit a 2-point jumper with 31 seconds remaining, assisted by Reinertsen; the 'Jackets were still down heading into the fourth, 64-55.
Kontny found a 3-pointer early in the quarter, getting the Knight lead to six points at the 8:37 mark, assisted by Leger, but the Knights would open up game, getting their largest lead at the final buzzer, downing the 'Jackets 83-65.
Norlin would finish with a game-high 20 points, and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Kontney scored 16 points in 30 minutes. Leger was also in double-digit scoring, hitting two long bombs, and going 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
The Knights had four players in double-digit scoring, and out-rebounded the Yellowjackets by one: 39-38.
The 'Jackets will play their second game of the Wartburg Holiday Tournament, facing off between the winner of UW-Whitewater and Gustavus Adolphus tomorrow at 1 p.m.
