The St. Catherine University basketball team ended last season on a three-game winning streak and hoped to start off on a high note in a non-conference match up with Crown College. After a close start, the Wildcats quickly got rolling en route to an 89-58 victory over the Storm in the season-opener Monday evening in the Butler Center. 

Both teams exchanged points back-and-forth through the opening five minutes until the Wildcats eventually went on a 15-1 run to close out the first quarter with a 25-10 lead. At that point,t he Wildcats never looked back and continued to push their lead to as many as 31 points. 

The Wildcats finished the night witha an impressive 47.3 percent shooting performance. They also went 15-21 from the free throw line, but also allowed the Storm to score 24 points from the line on 33 attempts. The Wildcats also held a 26-29 advantage in rebounds and created 14 steals. 

In just 20 minutes played, Audra Clark (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) recorded a game-high 17 points and nine rebounds. The sophomore shot 7-of-11 from the floor to lead the team in an efficient shooting night. She also added one assist, one block and one steal to complete her stat line. 

LaShay Holt (Minneapolis, Minn./Humboldt) came off the bench to score 14 points in just 18 minutes played. She shot 50 percent from the field, recorded seven rebounds and picked up a team-high five steals. She also tied for the team lead in assists with two. 

Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa/Dalls Center-Grimes) had a solid start to her junior campaign picking up 14 points in a team-high 21 mintues played. She went 6-for-10 from the field and a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. 

Annie Schoeben (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Osseo) also had a stellar performance recording a career-high 12 points off the bench. She went 5-of-9 from the field and recorded two of the Wildcats' four made 3-point baskets on the night. 

Other notable performances off the bench included first-year Kelsey Olson (Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) who scored nine points and chipped in five boards. Maria Davis (West St. Paul, Minn./St. Agnes) recorded a career-high six points while adding five rebounds, and first-year Alexis Christianson (Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont) had five rebounds, two points, two assists and two steals. 

The Storm was led by Jessica Klaustermeier with 13 points and Hannah Malone with 10 points. 

The Wildcats return to action Friday when they head West for tournament play in Los Angeles, California. They are scheduled to open up against Whittier College at 7 p.m. Friday before facing host Occidental College Saturday at 4 p.m. 

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