The St. Catherine University basketball team finally collected its first win of 2015 with a much-needed win over Macalester College Saturday afternoon. Not only was it a huge milestone for the team as they improved to 7-6 on the season – the most wins in a season since 2009-10 when the program advanced to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffs – but junior Shauna Horsch (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) had a career week. For her efforts, she has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week.Â
Though the Wildcats' comeback fell short in a 64-56 loss to Carleton College Wednesday, Horsch kicked off her impressive week recording her first collegiate double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. This was the first time in her three years Horsch surpassed double-digits in rebounds for a career-high performance in that category. She also went 2-of-6 from 3-point range and completed her stat line with a team-best two steals, one block and one assist.Â
In the 74-59 win over Macalester, Horsch shattered her previous-best scoring performance with a game-high 24 points thanks to a record day shooting beyond the arc. She went 5-of-9 to tie the single-game program record for 3-pointers most recently achieved by senior teammate Mary Neumann (Duluth, Minn./Hermantown) in an 84-82 overtime victory over the Scots in 2013. Horsch finished the game shooting 47 percent from the field and added to her all-around effort with three rebounds, four steals and an assists.Â
Prior to this week, Horsch was averaging just 6.5 points per game (ppg) and is now third on the team with 8.2 ppg. In conference games, Horsch ranks 12th in the MIAC in scoring (12.0 ppg), eighth in 3-point shooting percentage (44.4 percent) and fifth in steals (2.5 per game).Â
Horsch and the rest of the Wildcats welcome undefeated No. 5 University of St. Thomas for a home contest Wednesday evening. Tip off is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the Butler Center.Â