NORTHFIELD, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University basketball team returned to competition on Tuesday facing St. Olaf College for game one in their four-game abbreviated season. The Wildcats led the Oles the entire game claiming a 68-64 victory at Skogland Athletic Center on the campus of St. Olaf. 

In the first quarter of play, the Wildcats and Oles went back and forth until St. Kate's went on a five-point run with 20 seconds remaining. In the second quarter, St. Kate's opened up the gap taking a 21-13 lead over St. Olaf with just over five minutes to play.  The Oles inched their back outscoring St. Kate's 13-12 to get within four headed into the half 28-24, Wildcats. 

St. Olaf carried their momentum into the second half again outscoring St. Kate's for a third-quarter score of 43-40. The purple and gold built a 13 point lead over the home team, Oles, with a little over five minutes to play in the season opener. St. Olaf rallied back again near the end of the game getting within two points with eight seconds on the clock. Junior Mackenzie Kurczek clinched the win for St. Kate's from the free-throw line making two to put the Wildcat up by four with four seconds on the clock. 

Senior Brooke Torvik led the Wildcats with a career-high 14 points going 4 for 4 with two assists and one steal.Torvik was also 6 for 9 from the free-throw line. Kurczek tallied a career-high 11 points against the Oles shooting 3-9 and going 3 for 4 from the charity stripe with eight rebounds. 

Sophomore Bree Glynn and senior Kassidy Jenkins both added ten points in the game with Glynn shooting 3 for 5 and Jenkins 3 for 4. Glynn had a day with four rebounds and shooting 100 percent from the free-throw line while Jenkins was just behind her going 4 for 5. Sophomore Sarah Lavell rounded out the starting five adding eight points for the Wildcats and one rebound. 

St. Catherine will return to play on Friday, March 19 at Macalester at 7 pm.