NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Junior
Ella Skrien matched a career-high and led the St. Olaf College women's basketball team with 18 points, but the Oles were downed by Hamline, 70-56, in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) contest Wednesday evening at Skoglund Center.
After trailing by as many as 15 points, St. Olaf (8-16, 5-12 MIAC) climbed within four points early in the fourth quarter, but Hamline (13-11, 8-9 MIAC) went on a 15-6 run midway through the final period to secure the victory.
Skrien led the Oles with 18 points and three steals, and senior
Makenna Ash posted a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Sophomore
Keegan Mulvihill added nine points, eight rebounds and three steals.
First year
K'Lynn Lewis sank a three-pointer at 7:27 in the first period, giving St. Olaf a 6-5 lead, but the Pipers responded with a 10-0 run and took a nine-point lead. A jumper from first year
Rose Bauernfeind cut the deficit to seven heading into the second period.
The Oles went on a 9-2 run early in the second quarter, making the score 21-19, after a basket from first year
Sydney Beard. Hamline answered with a 12-2 run and regained a 12-point lead with four minutes to go in the half. A free throw by Ash brought St. Olaf within nine, but the Pipers finished the half with a 12-point lead.
After trailing by as many as 15 points, the Oles went on a 15-6 run and a basket from Skrien made the score, 50-44, with 27 seconds remaining in the third period.
In the fourth quarter, Mulvihill sank a jumper just 10 seconds into play, and brought St. Olaf within four at 51-47. Two baskets from Morgen Coleman extended Hamline's lead to nine points with seven minutes remaining.
Skrien drained a three-pointer at the six-minute mark, but the Piper's ended the game on an 11-3 run.
Despite the Oles posting 19 second-chance points, Hamline shot 42.6 percent from the floor compared to 31.1 percent from St. Olaf.
The Oles are back to action on Saturday, Feb. 16, as they travel to Augsburg for a MIAC contest beginning at 1 p.m.
