ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's basketball team fell to Hamline University, 81-72, in its final game of the CSB Tip-Off Tournament Saturday afternoon in St. Joseph, Minn.
Maddy Grove led the Cougars with a career-high 39 points in the loss.
Gianna Klarenbeek scored on the first shot of the game, giving UMM the early lead. A steal by Grove led to a fast-break layup, and
Grace Perry knocked down a three-pointer to push the score to 7-3. Perry connected again from deep to extend the advantage. The Pipers responded with a six-point run to retake the lead. The lead was short-lived, as Grove went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, followed by a made free throw from
Anna Myers. Grove scored the final six points of the quarter for UMM, giving the Cougars a 19-18 lead heading into the second quarter.
Grove opened the second quarter with a quick layup, and
Brooke Ver Steeg got on the board shortly after with a three-pointer. The teams traded baskets early, with several lead changes. Grove and Myers contributed to the scoring during that stretch. Hamline extended its lead to five, but points from Perry and Klarenbeek cut into the deficit. Grove went on a six-point run to give the Cougars the lead before Klarenbeek scored in the final second of the half to make it 40-35 heading into the break.
Minnesota Morris extended its lead early in the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Klarenbeek and Perry. Grove pushed the advantage to double digits with a five-point run. Midway through the quarter, the Cougars held a 15-point lead, with Grove adding a three-pointer and a layup. The Pipers scored the final points of the quarter, but UMM still led 60-52.
Hamline's run continued into the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to three. Grove completed a three-point play for the Cougars' first points of the quarter. Three consecutive three-pointers by the Pipers gave them the lead. Grove and Perry added free throws, and Myers hit a three-pointer, but it was not enough as Hamline rallied to win 81-72.
Grove led all scorers with 39 points, setting a new career high. She shot 14-of-19 from the field, 1-of-2 from three-point range and a perfect 10-of-10 from the free-throw line. Perry and Klarenbeek followed with 13 and 11 points, respectively. Nine of Perry's points came from beyond the arc. The Cougars shot 46.2 percent from the field and over 55 percent in both the second and third quarters.
Defensively, Klarenbeek led the team with eight rebounds, followed by Perry with six. Grove recorded a game-high five steals and also had the Cougars' only blocked shot.
The Cougars continue their road trip Wednesday as they travel to Concordia College for a 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
