CSS Women Triumph Over Ranked Bethel in Thrilling Comeback Victory
The St. Scholastica Saints have been making waves in all sorts of sports lately. Their resilience and competitive edge keep showing up, whether it’s a dramatic comeback in women’s basketball or a tough series in women’s hockey.
This past week brought intense action and some eye-catching performances. Let’s dive into the highlights and moments that really stood out.
St. Scholastica Women’s Basketball: A Thrilling Comeback
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The St. Scholastica women’s basketball team pulled off a wild rally, coming back from a 12-point hole in the fourth quarter to beat No. 21-ranked Bethel, 65-63. The crowd at Reif Gym in Duluth definitely got their money’s worth, especially during that 10-0 run that flipped the script.
Key Players and Moments
Evie Schmitz really stole the show, pouring in 13 of her 20 points in the final quarter. Her clutch three-pointer with 2:37 left put the Saints ahead for good.
Schmitz also snagged a huge steal in the closing seconds, making sure Bethel didn’t even get a final shot. Ava Haus chipped in with a double-double—16 points and 10 boards.
- Evie Schmitz: 20 points, including three big threes in the fourth.
- Ava Haus: Double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Midweek Dominance Over Macalester
Earlier in the week, the Saints handled Macalester 62-48 at home. They jumped out to a 39-22 halftime lead and never really looked back.
Schmitz and Haus kept their hot hands, each knocking down five threes. That kind of shooting just makes a coach smile, doesn’t it?
Team Effort
All five starters hit double figures, which says a lot about this team’s balance. Koy Nelson led with 25 points, while Davion Butler and Jayden Brown chipped in 18 and 15.
- Koy Nelson: 25 points on 10-for-15 shooting.
- Davion Butler: 18 points.
- Jayden Brown: 15 points.
Men’s Basketball: Breaking the Losing Streak
The men’s basketball team finally snapped their eight-game skid, outlasting Macalester 96-92 in St. Paul. They caught fire in the second half, shooting a ridiculous 65% from the floor.
Standout Performances
Jayden Brown paced the squad with 20 points. Four other Saints also cracked double figures, which really helped spread the scoring around.
The team knocked down 46% of their threes—hard to lose when you shoot like that.
- Jayden Brown: 20 points.
- Team Shooting: 65% from the floor in the second half.
- Three-Point Shooting: 46%.
Challenges in Women’s Hockey
The St. Scholastica women’s hockey team didn’t have the weekend they wanted, dropping two straight to Concordia-Moorhead. They fell 5-3 on Friday and 5-2 on Saturday, despite pushing hard both nights.
Key Moments
Gabby Gamst scored twice on Friday, giving the Saints a brief third-period lead. Concordia stormed back with three unanswered goals to close it out.
On Saturday, Grace Chapman and Suzi Vidmar put the Saints up 2-1 after two periods. But Concordia’s late surge in the third period put the game out of reach.
- Gabby Gamst: Two goals on Friday.
- Grace Chapman and Suzi Vidmar: Goals on Saturday.
Men’s Hockey: Struggles Continue
The men’s hockey team also had a rough go, losing 6-2 and 4-1 to Concordia-Moorhead. Friday’s game got away early—the Saints trailed 2-0 less than four minutes in.
Notable Performances
Even with the losses, a few moments stood out. Gavin Gunderson and Riley Girod each found the net for the Saints on Friday.
Hunter Hanson got things rolling with an early goal on Saturday. Meanwhile, goalie Brenden Stroble faced down a tough Concordia offense and stopped 26 shots that night.
- Gavin Gunderson and Riley Girod: Goals on Friday.
- Hunter Hanson: Early goal on Saturday.
- Brenden Stroble: 26 saves on Saturday.
If you’re curious about more details or want a deeper dive, check out the full article on the Duluth News Tribune.