ST. PAUL, MINN. – Something magical is happening to the St. Catherine University basketball team this week. On Monday, at home, the offense was firing on all cylinders in St. Kate's win against the University of Wisconsin-Superior. On Wednesday, again at home, the defense took control against the College of Saint Benedict. On Saturday, all facets of the game came together for the Wildcats when they traveled to Macalester and beat the Scots 81-57.

St. Kate's offensive and defensive play was strong during both their games early in the week but never at the same time. Against Macalester, the Wildcats were playing well on both offense and defense late in the game. St. Kate's scored 27 points in the fourth quarter along and only surrendered seven to the Scots.

At the beginning, though, both teams were evenly matched. Macalester matched the Wildcats point for point throughout the first quarter and the majority of the first half. The Wildcats were able to close the first quarter with a 20-18 lead, but they were forced to play most of it without juniors Kennedy Jennings (Grimes, Iowa / Dallas Center-Grimes) and Mari Lee (Dawson, Minn. / Dawson-Boyd). Both Jennings and Lee recorded two personal fouls early in the quarter. After that, they both spent the majority of the first half on the bench. Jennings and Lee have been key contributors to St. Kate's defensive and offensive scheme this season, but St. Kate's was able to overcome their absence and end the first half with a 37-35 lead. Guard LaShay Holt (Minneapolis, Minn. / Humboldt) lead both in teams with 13 first half points, while Audra Clark (Kenyon, Minn. / Kenyon-Wanamingo) and Shauna Horsch (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley) each added six.

In the third quarter, things started to swing the Wildcats way. Macalester led for less than a minute before St. Kate's took a lead they would never give up. The Wildcats held a slim 54-50 lead at the end of the third quarter, and a quick buckert by Macalester at the start of the fourth seemed to indicate things would be close for the rest of the game. 

It was the fourth quarter, though, where the offense and defense came together for St. Kate's. After the Scots initial bucket, the Wildcats made 11 straight baskets and went on a 25-0 run to take a decisive 77-52 lead. Horsch hit the big three pointer that started the run and was 5-5 from the floor in the fourth quarter. Clark also had a big impact as three of her six assists were dished out in the fourth quarter.

Clark ended the game with a team high 19 points and six assists. Horsch and Holt both finished the game with 18 points and combined for 22 of the teams 48 rebounds.
St. Kate's will get a few days off before playing in the final home game of the season next Wednesday. The Wildcats will take on the Concordia Cobbers at 7 p.m. in the Butler Center in what is sure to be a memorable Senior Night. Then, they travel to Northfield for the final game of the regular season against St. Olaf.