Storm Get Past Rams

Box Score

ST. BONIFACIUS, Minn.-- Women's Basketball came up on the short end of a back and forth contest on Friday. Crown College made the final move to defeat the Rams 58-55.

North Central (5-13, 1-9 UMAC) did not trail in the first quarter, leading 14-11 after the first ten minutes. The Storm made a strong move to start the second quarter taking an 18-14 lead less than three minutes in to the period. But North Central responded with a 14-0 run of their own to grab the games first double-figure difference, at 28-18 with 2:54 to play before the half. The Rams would lead 33-24 at the break.

Unfortunately the Rams recorded one of their worst offensive quarters of the year scoring just six points in the third and trailed 41-39 after 30 minutes of action. Crown pused their advantage to 45-39, 30 seconds into the fourth before the Rams responded. NCU tied it up and then retook the lead 47-45 with less than seven minutes to play.

Crown would retake the lead, this time for good, on their next trip and finished out the last several minutes for the win.

KEY SEQUENCE OF THE GAME

In a close game its hard to say which moment was the key in the final outcome but it appeared the Rams had retaken momentum with less than three minutes to go. With the Storm leading 53-49, freshman Sydney Steele (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) took a charge on defense and then sophomore Lizzy Swanson (Askov, Minn./East Central) hit a three pointer that got the Rams within one with 2:36 to play.

North Central produced another stop on defense and had the ball with a chance to take the lead. But the Rams turned it over and the Storm quickly countered with a bucket to push the lead back to 55-52 with 1:55 remaining. Another turnover by the Rams gave the Storm the ball back with 48 seconds left and they got 1-2 free throws at the line. NCU missed their first shot on the next trip and despite a second look at an open three, they came up short and Crown finished the game out.