SAINT PETER, Minn. – No. 8/12 women's basketball survived and advanced after a late comeback lifted the Knights over the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 57-56 in the first round of the Division III Championship tournament on Friday, Mar. 7.
The Knights advance to face the winner of No. 5/6 Gustavus vs Wisconsin Lutheran tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Saint Peter.
Game Summary
- First Half
- First Quarter
- Jaedon Murphy got the Knights on the board first to make the score 2-2 after two minutes of play
- Lauren Woeste and Lauren Golinghorst each scored in the paint over the next two minutes to put Wartburg in front 6-4
- Following a three pointer from UW-Stevens Point, the Knights ripped off a 10-0 run to take a 16-7 lead after one quarter of play
- Second Quarter
- The Pointers made a jumper to begin the second quarter that was immediately answered by a Grace Hennessy three pointer to make the score 19-9 after one minute
- A minute later Murphy made a layup to put the score at 21-10
- After a seven-minute scoring drought from Wartburg, UW-Stevens Point came storming back to take a 24-21 lead with 1:51 left in the half before Faber stopped the run with a free throw
- Lauren Woeste collected an offensive rebound and put it back up for a score to tie the game at 24-24, but the Pointers made two free throws before halftime to take a 26-24 lead into the break
- Second Half
- Third Quarter
- Britney Young opened the second half with a three pointer that put Wartburg ahead 27-26 early into the third quarter
- Murphy and Young both scored to make the score 31-31 after two minutes played
- Faber and Golinghorst each scored two points over the next two minutes to put Wartburg in front 35-34
- The Pointers made a three right after to regain the lead
- Neither team scored again until the final minute of the third quarter when Wartburg went ¾ from the free throw line to take a 38-36 lead into the final quarter
- Woeste and Hennessy combined for Wartburg's three free throws
- Fourth Quarter
- Each teams traded scores to begin the fourth as Faber and Woeste both scored layups for the Knights, but the score was tied 42-42 with 7:37 left to play
- After another score from Golinghorst, the Pointers went on a 5-0 run to take a 49-44 lead with four and a half minutes to play
- Following a timeout, Murphy scored on an inbounds play and then Faber intercepted a pass that led to a Golinghorst score on the other end to bring Wartburg back within one point with 3:19 left in the game
- Trailing by four, Hennessy connected on a clutch three pointer that kept the Pointers lead at one point with just over two minutes left to play
- After two Pointers free throws, Golinghorst scored in the paint to make the score 56-55 with 24 seconds remaining
- UW-Stevens Point missed both free throws on the other side and then Wartburg drew a foul with just over one second left
- Faber went to the line and sunk two clutch free throws to give Wartburg a 57-56 lead and the eventual win after a final Pointers shot was unsuccessful.
Top Performers
Postgame Press Conference
Notes/Streaks
- First win in program history against UW-Stevens Point (now 1-2 overall)
- First NCAA Tournament matchup between these schools
- Faber tied the single season record for steals at Wartburg with four today (84 this season)
- Fifth time this season shooting over 85% from the free throw line as a team
- Hennessy led the Knights in three pointers made with two
- Season low three offensive rebounds
- UW-Stevens Point had a 33-24 advantage in total rebounds
- Seven different Knights scored today
- Young and Faber each recorded four steals today
- One shy of Wartburg record for most steals in an NCAA tournament game
Next Time Out
The Knights advance to face the winner of No. 5/6 Gustavus vs Wisconsin Lutheran tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Saint Peter.
