ST. PAUL, Minn.---In its first meeting with Hamline University this season, the St. Catherine University basketball team allowed a fourth-quarter lead to slip away in the final minutes before losing by just six points. The Wildcats turned the tables this time, thought, in game two of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) series as they went on a 31-10 run in the fourth quarter to end their six-game losing streak Saturday at Hutton Arena. 

The Wildcats started out slow scoring just eight points in the opening 10 minutes of play. However, they recovered quickly and managed to outscore the Pipers 21-16 over the next 10 minutes to knot the game at 29-29 at the half.

After shooting just 25 percent from the field in the first half of play, the Wildcats shot nearly 50 percent in the second 20 minutes to mount their spectacular comeback. They also held the Pipers to just 36 percent shooting and out-rebounded them 20-18 to take control of the boards. The Wildcats finished with the advantage in rebounds after posting 40 for the game – the first total over 30 in the last four games for the Wildcats. 

In the third quarter, the two teams scored in the opening minutes and were deadlocked at 33-33 with 5:42 to go. Then, the Pipers went on an 8-0 run over the next 2:41 and looked as if they might pull away. The Wildcats pulled within four with just 51 seconds remaining before going down again by seven heading into the final quarter. 

It was all Wildcats, though, in the fourth who took the lead back just two minutes in. The Pipers added four-straight points before the Wildcats went on a 17-4 run to take a double-digit lead with just 2:33 remaining in the game. The Wildcats held on for their eighth win of the season and third in MIAC play. 

LaShay Holt (Minneapolis, Minn./Humboldt) dominated in the second half going 6-of-11 from the field for 16 points. She finished the game with 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals to pace the Wildcats to victory.

Audra Clark (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) had a career game leading the Wildcats with a career- and game-high 10 rebounds. She added 18 points to post her first collegiate double-double performance. The sophomore also added a game-high five steals to complete her stellar day.  

Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) scored nine points with seven coming at the free throw line, while Meg Clark (Kenyon, Minn./Kenyon-Wanamingo) and Shauna Horsch (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley) each tallied eight points. Jennings also picked up eight rebounds and two steals. Clark recorded five boards, two assists and two steals. 

Leading the way for the Pipers was Chloe Graves with 18 points, six assists and three steals. Emily Behrman also scored in double digits with 13 points on a 5-of-8 shooting day from the field. 

The Wildcats return home Wednesday to take on a struggling Carleton College squad at 7 p.m. in the Butler Center. 

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