St. Olaf Women’s Basketball Triumphs Over Crown with Second-Half Comeback

The St. Olaf College women’s basketball team showed real grit and determination by clawing back from a seven-point halftime deficit to grab a 62-53 win over Crown College. This non-conference win at Skoglund Center underlined the Oles’ knack for rallying in big moments, and it’s actually their second win over the Polars this season.

The game was a showcase of teamwork and some memorable individual performances. First-year player Emmanuella Sennowo really stood out.

St. Olaf’s Impressive Second-Half Comeback

Down 34-27 at halftime, St. Olaf came out of the break with a new energy. The Oles outscored Crown College 35-19 in the second half, showing off both their defense and a smoother offense.

This win bumped their season record to 4-2, while Crown College slipped to 1-7.

Key Performances

Emmanuella Sennowo led the way with a season-high 14 points, shooting 4-for-6 from the field and going a perfect 5-for-5 at the line. Hallie Koltz, also a first-year, and sophomore Elise Hahn chipped in 13 points each, combining for 14-of-16 on free throws.

Hahn grabbed her fourth double-double of the season, tallying 16 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Joy Brandenstein added 11 points to the mix.

Game Highlights

Crown College jumped out early, knocking down back-to-back threes. The Polars kept the pressure on and finished the first quarter ahead, 23-21.

Scoring slowed down in the second quarter. Both teams combined for just 17 points, and Crown held the Oles to six, stretching their lead to 34-27 by halftime.

Second Half Surge

St. Olaf came out firing in the third quarter, opening with an 8-2 run to close the gap. Sennowo hit a layup off a Hahn assist, cutting it to a one-point game.

Koltz and Hahn came through with big buckets, pushing St. Olaf in front late in the third. Crown’s Jacee Glasgow tied it up at 42-42 with a buzzer-beater, but the Oles didn’t let that shake them.

In the fourth, St. Olaf pulled away with a 6-0 run, grabbing their biggest lead at 48-42. Brandenstein drilled a three with just over four minutes left, stretching the lead to eight.

The Oles stayed cool at the line, sinking 5-of-6 free throws down the stretch to lock up the win.

Team Effort and Free Throw Success

St. Olaf’s free throw shooting made a huge difference. They hit 23-of-27 (85.2 percent), their best mark since a February 2023 game against Bethel University.

That kind of accuracy, especially late, really helped fuel their second-half surge.

Looking Ahead

With this win, the Oles head back into conference play feeling pretty good. Their next game is Saturday, Dec. 6, against Augsburg University in Minneapolis.

That one’s shaping up to be a real test as St. Olaf looks to keep the momentum rolling and make some noise in the conference.

Conclusion

The St. Olaf College women’s basketball team pulled off a gritty win over Crown College. They showed real resilience and teamwork out there.

After trailing at halftime, the Oles came back strong in the second half. That kind of effort hints at what this group might achieve as the season rolls on.

Curious about all the details? Check out the official game recap for the full story.