The Lawrence University women’s basketball team defeated St. Norbert for the first time since 1999 this past Tuesday, snapping an 11-game losing streak against the Green Knights. The Vikings led most of the entire game, and Felicita Porrata had a monster game with 23 points and 13 rebounds.
The Green Knights took a 7-3 lead early in the first half, but that would be their largest *******– and last ********– lead. The Vikings stormed back on the heels of Porrata, who was everywhere in the first half. Porrata had ten points at the half, as well as eight rebounds, and had several other passes deflected and knocked away to her teammates.
The Vikings ended the first half on a good note, scoring four straight points, with three great defensive stops; they took a 29-25 advantage into the locker room. They needed a good start in the second half to make sure the momentum was theirs, and it was.
The Vikings tried not to remember back to last season, when they led by two at the half only to fall to the Green Knights in double overtime at the Alexander Gym. This time, it wouldn’t happen. The Vikings jumped out fast with a Carla Zarecki trey, and an immediate steal by Emily Stengl, who found Porrata for the lay-up to bring the lead to 9.
On a pair of Porrata free throws, the Vikings extended the lead to its largest margin, 20 points with 11:15 to go in the ballgame. The Green Knights, however, are not a team to fold easily, and they came storming back.
The Viking lead slowly dwindled from 10 down to 2 points with 2:53 to go in the game. From there, both teams went ice cold ********– the Vikings couldn’t hit a free throw, and the Green Knights couldn’t hit a shot. Finally, with 33 seconds to play, Meggan Hau had two free throws to tie the game for the Green Knights, but she could only hit one, closing the gap to 57-56.
After another missed shot, the Green Knights had a chance to win, but Maggie Miskowicz blocked Erin Pamperin, who was playing because three other front line players ******– Porrata, Kelly Mulcahy, and Christine Brice ********– had all fouled out. After two missed Viking free throws, and a desperate attempt at the buzzer that didn’t fall, the Vikings ran onto the court to celebrate the end of the losing streak.
The player of the game was Porrata, who with her 23 points this game along with her 16 the game before in the Vikings 83-67 blowout of Beloit, is now only 6 points away from being the first LU female basketball player to score 1000 points and have 500 rebounds in a career.
She should be able to easily attain that milestone as the Vikings are home for their next three games. The Vikings will tip-off against Illinois College at 5:30 tonight, Knox at 2 tomorrow, and Carroll at 5:30 Tuesday night.
Vikes drop Green Knights for first time since 1999 -dlh
