ST. PAUL, Minn. --  It was a tale of two halves in Saturday's dramatic win-and-in season finale at the Butler Center. In the first half, the Wildcat's defense moved quickly, and their offense flowed nicely. They shot 54% from the field and went into the locker room up by twenty. However, the Oles roared back in the third quarter, took the lead midway through the fourth, and never looked back. The Oles move on to the MIAC playoffs, while the Wildcats have to settle for seventh place, as they finish the season 11-11 in the conference.  It was a nice improvement from last year's season (only 6 MIAC wins). Nonetheless, it was a bit of a letdown at the end.  Most of the St. Kate's roster should be back next year, but Saturday was Senior Day and the team's three seniors were all in the starting lineup: Bree Glynn, Mackenzie Kurczek, and Sam Orth. They have all been significant contributors to the program over their careers.

In the energy-filled first quarter, Greta Schimnowski opened the Wildcat scoring with a three, putting St. Kate's up 3-2. With the teams tied at 7 midway through the quarter, Karis Zezza found a cutting Bree Glynn who finished close in. Sam Orth and Kaylee Miron then hit from deep, and Sydney Elliott scored on a putback that made it 17-7 at the quarter's end. In the second, Ole shooters remained cold, and the Wildcats held them to another measly 7 points in the frame.  Meanwhile Sam Orth got rolling, hitting 5 field goals in the period and helping St. Kate's go up by as much as 23.

At the start of the third, the Oles hit their first two three-point attempts making it clear that they would not roll over. St. Kate's kept battling, however, breaking the pressure defense, playing good defense themselves, and getting a few points from the free throw line.  When Karis Zezza scored on back to back possessions with under three minutes in the third, the lead was 11.  But St. Olaf found their way. Rachel Kelly rose to the occasion hitting several tough baskets--she finished the game with 19 points. She cut the lead to single digits in the third quarter, and when her layup went in with 5:44 left in the fourth it gave St. Olaf their first lead since the opening basket.  Then Kelly scored the game's next 5 points to put the Oles up 50-44. It was all they would need.

Sam Orth led Wildcat scores with 17 points. Karis Zezza contributed 9, and Rachel Randleman went 2 of five from distance, scoring 6.