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Oles hold on to beat Scots

Sarah McBroom
January 7, 2002

In MIAC conference action, the St. Olaf women?s basketball team (6-4, 4-3 MIAC) defeated the Macalester College Scots by a score of 64-60.

The game, played at the Macalester Gymnasium in St. Paul, was one of momentum shifts and scoring swings. While the Scots were never able to control the lead after scoring the first field goal of the contest. They were twice able to put together a run to tie the ball game after St. Olaf had secured a significant lead in each half. St. Olaf, who has won several close games this season, was again able to make some key plays in the final minutes to secure the win.

In the first half, the Oles led by as much as ten points after ten minutes of play. The Scots were able to come back and tie the score at 25-25 with over three minutes remaining. However, the teams retired to the locker rooms for halftime with St. Olaf ahead by a field goal, 29-27.

The Oles came out strong in the early minutes of the second half, building their lead to as much as 15 points in only six minutes. Coach Buresh commented, "We started out the second half really moving the ball well and getting good shots. We also played very good defense and caused some turnovers." The Scots again battled back, and tied the game at 49-49 with just under seven minutes remaining in the contest. In this scoring swing, St. Olaf seemed to lose their rhythm, allowing the Scots to control the momentum of the game for awhile: "We began to stand around, and as a consequence we committed some turnovers and started missing our shots," explained Coach Buresh.

The Oles, no doubt relying on the experience and confidence gained from earlier close wins, were able to come out ahead when game-time expired. Coach Buresh pointed out, "In the last two and a half minutes, we really controlled the boards and got to the line. We also made key baskets at key points in the game." Jill Johnson (So, Butterfield, Minn.), led the team in scoring with 17 points (nine for ten in free throws) and grabbed eight rebounds. Johnson had several key rebounds and went four for four from the free-throw line in the last two and a half minutes of play. Both Liz Mundahl (Jr, Eagan, Minn.), who scored 13 for the Oles, and Sarah McBroom (So, Mora, Minn.), who added eight points, scored important field goals and got to the free throw line in the last minute of the game to secure the win for the Oles.

Also playing well for the St. Olaf was Cara Battles (Sr, McGregor, Minn.) who scored eight points and Carrie Cooley (Sr, Villard, Minn.) who had five assists. Kristy Larson (FY, St. Ansgar, Iowa) contributed eight rebounds, and Lori Enlund (So, Bloomington, Ill.) added six rebounds. In important team statistics, the Oles out-rebounded the Scots 47 to 31. Free throws were also a crucial factor in the close game, as the Oles went 17 for 22 from the line in comparison to Macalester, who went four for nine.

St. Olaf?s mid-season game schedule is in full swing. The women?s basketball team next travels to St. Joseph to play the College of Saint Benedict on Monday, January 7, and then travels to St. Paul to face the University of St. Thomas on Wednesday, January 9. Both games are at 7:30 PM.

Contact Judy Stromayer at 507-786-3315 or stromaye@stolaf.edu.