After doing color commentary with Tony Geer earlier in the afternoon at Bethel as they hung on to win a tough, 49-45 game over Macalester, I headed over to the south side of St. Paul as St. Kate's was hosting Augsburg in the season finale for both teams. Not only was this senior day in the MIAC but this was also the last game for Augsburg head coach Jennifer Britz who had tenered her resignation earlier in the week.
I got into the Butler Center and settled in around the 9:15 mark of the first half with host St. Kate's holding a seemingly comfortable 19-10 lead. But, just as the home team and its fans were feeling good about things, the visiting Auggies struck back. Junior Serenae Levine hit a shot off the glass as the shot clock expired at the 7:24 mark. After sophomore Tracee Schrank sank one FT at the 6:07 mark, freshman guard Casey Gintner scored a lay-up. Then, junior guard/forward Nikki Borkhuis hit a jumper that cut the St. Kate's lead down to a scant two points at 19-17 at the 4:46 mark. Then, junior guard Lexi Thompson not only tied things up at 19-all but also gave her team the lead 21-19 at the 3:24 mark with a lay-up. St. Kate's finally caught its breath and was able to forge a 22-all tie when senior Sonja Ellingson nailed a "3" as the shot clock expired at the 2:35 mark. Things would stay nip and tuck for the remainder of the first half with Augsburg going into the locker room at halftime holding a 28-27 lead.
The 'Cats got things off to a good start in the second half. Senior Laura Kalbfell, finishing up an outstanding career, scored off the glass at the 19:40 mark as St. Kate's reclaimed the lead at 29-28. Kalbfell again kissed the rock off the glass at the 18:43 mark for a 31-28 Wildcat lead and it looked as if the home team had regained some momentum. But Schrank, who continued to have a hot hand in this game, narrowed the 'Cats lead to 31-30 with a long 2-pointer. After freshman Kristen Lee's score that upped the St. Kate's ante to 33-30, senior PG Quinn Halverson made sure her career at St. Kate's didn't go unnoticed as she hit a "3" from the right wing at the 17:33 mark. Things would stay close and Augsburg was able to tie things up again at the 15:08 mark with Schrank hitting a lay-up.
St. Kate's would once again make a small push that would enable them to hold a bit of an advantage. Ellingson hit a short shot off the glass at the 14:38 mark and then sophomore Adele Simerson-Wallfred connected with a jumper that got the 'Cats a 43-39 edge. Simerson-Wallfred showed her budding confidence when she nailed a "3" at the 12:20 mark for a 48-41 Wildcat lead that let the home crowd breathe a bit easier - but not for long. Ginter again showed her worth as she scored and was fouled in the process; sinking the obligatory freebie shot that cut the 'Cat lead to 48-44 at the 12:10 mark. St. Kate's would be able to maintain the 4-5 point advantage for the next couple of minutes before Augsburg was ready to make another move. After Borkhuis made one FT at the 8:56 mark, Schrank canned two more freebies after being fouled at the 8:06 mark to trim St. Kate's lead to 50-48. Augsburg once again pulled even at the 7:33 mark when sophomore transfer Brittany Zins scored inside for a 50-all tie.
St. Kate's would once again make a push of its own with both Ellingson and Kalbfell doing the honors to forge a 54-50 lead. But right back came Augsburg. Levine cut the deficit to two points at the 6:32 mark and then Ginter's "3" from the left wing at the 5:57 mark gave the Auggies their first lead since halftime at 55-54. Right back came the 'Cats as Halvorson drained a "3" from the right wing at the 5:32 mark and then Ellingson powered her way inside and finished for a 59-55 St. Kate's lead. St. Kate's would hold this slim advantage coming into the home stretch and it appeared that they had this one in the bag with just :16.5 left on the clock when Halvorson was able to make one FT and get her Wildcat team a 64-59 lead. But Augsburg, playing with nothing to lose, refused to give in. Ginter again proved deadly from the perimeter when she nailed a "3" with just :11 left on the clock. Halvorson was once again fouled on the ensuing possesion, but, just as with the previous two, could only manage to make one FT for a 65-62 'Cat lead. This gave Augsburg the chance they needed. Augsburg quickly but efficiently got the ball down the floor and with just :00.9 left Schrank was able to let loose with a "3" from the top of the key that swished through as the buzzer sounded to forge a 65-all tie at the end of regulation.
Levine got the Auggies a brief lead at 67-65 at the 3:30 mark but Ellingson was able to knock down two FTs after being fouled at the 3:00 mark that once again tied things up. Then Halvorson, wanting to make up for those missed opportunities late in regulation, gave the 'Cats the lead at 69-67. Zins was able to force one last tie at 60 a piece when she scored on a hard drive at the 1:51 mark. With the issue still very much in doubt, it was the Ellingson-Kalbfell duo that was eventually able to save the day for the home team. Ellingson scored at the :42 mark with a long two-pointer from the top and a 71-69 lead. Still, Zins gave the Auggies hope when she scored again inside to make it 71-all with just :29 left. Then, fittingly, the 'Cats were able to hold the ball on the ensuing possession and, with just :08 left, it was Kalbfell making the deciding bucket off the glass and a 73-71 lead. Augsburg had one more chance but was not able to get the ball down. GREAT game to watch! And a great end for seniors Kalbfell, Ellingson, and Halvorson.
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