(ST. NORBERT COMMUNICATIONS) DE PERE – St. Norbert College prevailed over Lakeland University in a tightly contested Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference quarterfinal at Mulva Family Fitness and Sports Center.
The Green Knights (21-4) led for most of the first half but couldn’t find many baskets to fall in the second quarter, resulting in a 24-23 lead going into the half. The Muskies proved to be a tough out in the third quarter as they took a small lead before the Green Knights regained the momentum in the fourth quarter.
Taylor Thiry had five early points for St. Norbert as it looked like the Green Knights were going to run through Lakeland. The Muskies stayed in touching distance of the lead before back-to-back 3-pointers from Emma Morrisey and Marnie Kahl gave St. Norbert a 18-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Muskies went on an 11-2 run in the second quarter to snatch their first lead at 23-22 at 3:11. The Green Knights were able to put up a defensive stand to close out the final three minutes, not allowing any points from Lakeland and retook the lead off an Oakley Witteck layup to take a 24-23 lead to the break.
After trailing 34-31 in the third quarter at 2:47, Thiry went to work in the paint and scored several layups while Kahl backup just before the buzzer gave the Green Knights a 39-38 lead heading into the final 10 minutes.
Macey Mercer (pictured) proved to be on of St. Norbert’s vital assets in the fourth quarter, as her six points in the quarter helped St. Norbert retake a 47-43 lead with 3:47 remaining. Another three from Morrisey put the nail in the coffin for the Muskies, who could not come back from a 7-pont deficit as they had no choice but to foul and send the Green Knights to the charity stripe.
St. Norbert shot 43.1 percent from the floor (22-for-51). Thiry led with 19 points while Mercer had 12. Kahl had seven off the bench. The Green Knights were outrebounded by the Muskies 32-30.
Lakeland shot 36.4 percent from the floor (16-for-44). A.T. Bartlett led the Muskies with 15 points.
St. Norbert will host Benedictine University in a NACC semifinal on Thursday, February 27 at 7 p.m.
