After doing color commentary with Tony Geer over at Bethel for their 1:00 P.M. game against Gustavus (which was a resounding 60-38 triumph for the Gusties), I hurried down Snelling and Summit Avenues (God HELP ME I HATE St. Paul streets; they were built by a drunken 19th-century drunken Irishman) to get over to St. Kate's for the 3:00 P.M. clash between Augsburg and the host Wildcats. I got settled in at the Butler Center at the 8:26 mark with the Auggies clinging to a slim 16-12 lead.
Neither team could make much of a statement in terms of either making a run or trying to even things up in the remaining minutes of the first half. Auggie senior guard Lexi Thompson could have easily made ESPN's "Play Of The Day" with her unbelievable one-handed shot underneath the basket (she's always doing something unbelievable in games it seems like) at the 7:19 mark for a 20-14 Augsburg lead. Augsburg did extend their lead to eight thanks to southpaw sophomore Abbey Luger's "3" from the left top with 3:43 left and willowy junior Brittany Dyshaw's two rebounds with a putback and a 25-17 Augsburg advantage that had St. Kate's Head Coach Gary Rufsvold steaming at his team's woeful rebounding in the subesequent time-out. The Wildcats responded to Rufsvold's chewing out with a mini-run that cut the Auggie advantage to 25-21 with 1:27 left but had to settle for that four-point deficit going into the locker room at the half down 27-23.
Freshman sensation Sarina Baker gave the home crowd some hope early on in the second half with a drive and finish at the 19:46 mark that got the Wildcats to within two at 27-25. Strangely enough, the Wildcats would never get any closer. Junior Brittany Zins helped make sure of that for the Auggies as she did her dirty work down low (does it better than anyone in the MIAC, IMHO) and then Thompson slithered inside like a cat going after a mouse as she scored and got fouled in the process. The resulting freebie got Augsburg back up to 32-25.
The frustrating thing (from both standpoints, I think) in the second half is that the Wildcats would make mini-runs that made it LOOK like they MIGHT creep right back into it (but couldn't) and the Auggies never really could QUITE put their opponents completely away. Augsburg upped their advantage to 38-27 by the 11:58 mark after Zins scored inside (so what else is new?!) and it looked as if they were in control but the 'Cats would slowly scratch and claw away at that lead. Junior Adele Simerson-Wallfred knocked down one freebie after getting fouled at the 7:12 mark and then Baker snared a steal and rumbled the other way for a lay-up. An inside score from fellow freshman sensation Jule Muegge (just back into action after recovering from an ankle injury) narrowed the Auggie advantage to 40-35 by the 6:13 mark. But Augsburg simply would not let St. Kate's complete a comeback. Two free throws by Zins and a jumper from athletic sophomore Kendra Ware plus two more freebies by senior PG Serenae Levine gave the Auggies a 50-40 cushion with just :43 left that St. Kate's simply could not recover from. The Auggies, who arguably only brought their "C+" or "B-" game with them on this day, were able to escape back to the other side of town with a 51-43 victory.
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Showing posts with label Augsburg/St. Kate's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Augsburg/St. Kate's. Show all posts
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Augsburg vs St. Kate's 2-19-11
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.
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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