After getting out of UST's Anderson Athletic Center, I got onto Cleveland Avenue and made the quick run down to St. Kate's Butler Center and got settled in at the 14:16 mark of the first half with St. Kate's up on Macalester by a score of 14-11.
When I got settled in it appeared as if the Wildcats were getting the upper hand in this one but looks can be deceiving; especially early on in a contest as Macalester proceeded to go on a 9-0 tear that completely changed the complexion of this one. Two free throws by freshman reserve post Regan Fruh at the 13:43 mark and a score in the paint by sophomore forward Park Masterson at the 13:03 mark put the Scots out in front 15-14. Junior guard Erin Murray uncorked a "3" from the left top area at the 11:05 mark and freshman guard Vivi Gregorich connected with a lay-up at the 10:19 mark as Macalester established a 20-14 advantage.
St. Kate's Head Coach Sean Pinkerton; who had shed his familiar sportcoat by the time I had arrived, could have been inclined to hit the panic button right then and there but decided to stay the course and let his squad battle through it. Wildcat freshman guard Audra Clark put down two free throws with 9:52 left and then junior guard Shauna Horsch; enroute to a big performance on this day, knocked down a "3" from the left corner with 8:36 left that brought St. Kate's back to within three trailing 22-19 and a free throw by sophomore sensation guard/forward LaShay Holt got the 'Cats to within two trailing 22-20 with 8:21 left. The Scots would maintain that slim two-point advantage until Horsch snared a steal and dashed the other way for a lay-up with 6:56 left that tied the issue at 24-all. But Macalester was in no mood to panic either and they were able to re-establish the lead. A short jumper by sophomore reserve post Karen Rathjens with 6:43 left and a "3" from the top of the key by junior guard Katelyn Kack had Macalester up by five at 29-24 and a steal by Murray and lay-up the other way by the Sparta, Wisconsin product maintained the five-point cushion at 31-26 with 5:08 left. Now it was St. Kate's turn to battle back. Audra Clark connected with a lay-up with 4:47 left to trim the deficit to three and two charity stripe shots by Horsch brought the Wildcats to within one with 4:34 left. Audra Clark then connected with a lay-up and got fouled in the process and the ensuing freebie put St. Kate's back out in front 33-31with 3:58 left. Macalester would regain the lead again as sophomore reserve guard Lauren Clamage knocked down a "3" from the right top area with 3:29 left and added a free throw with 1:52 left to make it a 35-33 game in favor of the Scots. The Wildcats would tie the game at 35-all on senior reserve forward Mary Neumann's score in the paint with 1:32 left and get one last lead in the first half at 37-36 on a jumper from the right wing by Horsch but an offensive rebound and putback by Fruh with :23 left allowed the Scots to take a 38-37 lead into the locker room at the half.
Things would stay tight in the opening minutes of the second half as neither side could immediately gain any noticeable advantage. A score in the paint by Fruh at the 18:20 mark and a lay-up in transition by Clamage at the 16:56 mark had Macalester up 42-39 but Wildcat sophomore forward Mari Lee was able muscle into the paint for a score and got fouled in the process to tie the issue again at 42 a piece. Holt connected on one of her patented two-handed trey attempts at the 15:46 mark to put St. Kate's up 45-44 but Horsch got tagged with her third foul a short time later so there was no reason for the Wildcat faithful to feel too confident about anything yet. Scot sophomore reserve guard Grace Dickman gave her team one last lead at 46-45 at the 14:35 mark when she connected with a jumper from the free throw line so, at least for the moment anyway, things were still very much up in the air.
But, as much as St. Kate's had been struggling over the last four games and the fact that they were looking for their first win in the new year, the Wildcats finally were able to find some spark and found a way to will themselves to victory. And it would be Horsch who would be leading the way. First, however, it was Mary Neumann lighting the fire as she drained a "3" from the left top area at the 13:42 mark and connected with a lay-up at the 12:13 mark to put St. Kate's up 50-46. Another Mary Neumann trey - this one from the top of the key at the 11:38 mark - made it a 53-46 game. Masterson's jumper from the right elbow at the 11:06 mark briefly brought Macalester back to within five but then Horsch connected with a lay-up that re-established the seven-point lead and then the former Simley High product let loose with another "3"; this one from the right top area with 9:46 left made it a 58-48 ballgame and Scot Head Coach Kelly Roysland had seen enough to know that a timeout was warranted. That stoppage initially appeared to benefit Macalester as the clawed their way back to within six on scores by both Masterson and Dickman but Horsch was intent on setting the St. Kate's net on fire with her fabulous performance as she drained another "3" from the top of the key with 8:34 left for a nine-point 61-52 lead. Holt would add a lay-up with 7:07 left and then Horsch reigned terror again from behind the arc as she dropped yet another "3" - this one from the right wing area with 5:30 left that established a 67-52 lead that was, for all intents and purposes, the ball game. Two lay-ups by Holt gave the Wildcats a 71-52 lead with 4:01 left and Macalester could only make small dents into the cushion from then on. Holt was able to snare an offensive rebound for a putback with 1:43 left and Audra Clark made one free throw for icing on the cake and a 74-59 St. Kate's victory.
Pinkerton wasn't willing to say afterward that this was necessarily a "breakout" performance by Horsch who finished with 24 points which included five three-pointers. In my mind, though, this performance should be a shot of confidence in the arm to the Wildcats who normally have to rely on
Holt's heroics in most games. Now opponents will have more to focus on in preparing for St. Kate's which, presumably anyway, will open up more opportunities for Holt to shine as well. For a program that has struggled as of late, this is definitely good to see. Meanwhile, the struggles continue for the Scots who are riding an 8-game losing skid. But that won't deter Roysland and her staff from continuing to work hard and improve each day. They may not be the most talented team out there but they certainly don't beat themselves and they are very well-coached. It's only a matter of time before Roysland has this squad on an upward swing and don't be surprised if they beat somebody down the road that they're not supposed to beat.
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