UW-Superior 74, St. Scholastica 55
SUPERIOR, Wis. (December 6, 2017) – The Yellowjackets got their first conference win Wednesday night, steamrolling the rival St. Scholastica Saints at home.
Both teams shot the ball well in the opening minutes, the 'Jackets would have 14 points by the 4:36 mark on buckets down low from Jade Tucker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) and Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield). Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) and Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) would find buckets on the fastbreak. The 'Jackets were also able to secure 10 offensive rebounds in the quarter. The 'Jackets were up big after one 24-8.
The lead continued into the second period, as the Yellowjackets forced a shot clock violation on the first possession for the Saints. At 8:30, Kontny would find an offensive rebound and lay the ball up for a 26-8 lead, and Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) would sink two free throws just 24 seconds later to get the lead out to 28-8. The Saints would dig into the Yellowjacket lead slightly, but Superior kept grinding, holding a big halftime lead: 43-22.
Kontny continued to score on the fastbreak, getting a coast-to-coast lay-in around the seven-minute mark, stretching the lead 24. The Saints would pile on the free throws in the third, getting 10 attempts in the final three minutes, but Superior continued to hold a lead at 53-43 at the third period buzzer.
Leger increased the lead with a 3-pointer, assisted from Norlin, to start the fourth, and Norlin found a tough bucket down low to add a basket of her own. The 'Jackets then turned up the intensity on defense, forcing a shot clock violation at 7:58, and getting two free throws from Kontny in the next possession. A minute later, Larson would find the defensive rebound, go coast-to-coast, and get the right-handed layup to take a 17-point lead.
The fourth buzzer would sound with a Yellowjacket victory, 74-66.
Four 'Jackets were in double digits, led by Kontny with 15 and 11 rebounds, Larson with 14 points, Leger with 13 points and two assists, and Tucker with 10 points and three rebounds.
The Saints' Brannen scored 11 points.
The 'Jackets will play in the second of a double-header against Minnesota Morris on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m.
