Lawrence´s Ashley Stanton, center, knifes between St. Norbert College defenders Kerstin Larsen (20) and Susan Schramka during a Jan. 29 Midwest Conference game at St. Norbert. (Sports Information Office)
The Lawrence University women’s basketball team blew a sixteen-point halftime lead, but was able to regain it and hang on for an 80-77 victory at Beloit last Saturday. The Vikings jumped on the Buccaneers early. By the time sophomore forward Marie Molter hit a jump shot and made her free throw after being fouled with 13:53 left in the first half, LU was already up 17-4. The Vikings kept taking it hard to the basket, aided by the inside presence of Molter. After freshman forward Debbie Novotney knocked down a jumper with 5:57 remaining in the first, LU took what would be its biggest lead of the game: 35-13. The Buccaneers struggled to stop Lawrence’s magnificent shooting in the first half. The Vikings shot 52 percent from the field in the first half, and ended the half with a 49-33 lead.
The Vikings came out of the locker room thinking they had this game wrapped up, but Beloit had other ideas. They clawed their way back into the game, and over a 3:35 span in the second half, Beloit went on a 16-4 run. After senior guard Katie Wilke hit a three pointer with 3:05 to go in the game, Beloit had taken a shock lead 74-72. This was when the Vikings calmed down and took back control of the game.
Molter made a jumper with 1:31 to go and LU had a 77-76 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Beloit had a chance to tie with four seconds left in the game, but Wilke missed her first free throw of two, and after a pair of Lawrence free throws, the Vikings hung on to win 80-77.
The Vikings were led by Molter’s unbelievable game. She had a career high 25 points and pulled down sixteen rebounds, also had a career high. With this victory, the Vikings clinched a place in the Midwest Conference Tournament.
But this news was bittersweet. Carroll clinched the MWC title with a 61-59 victory over Ripon on Saturday and will host the MWC Tournament on Feb. 22 and 23. The Vikings end their regular season Saturday afternoon at Ripon, and will have a full week off before the MWC Tournament.