11/17/06

In the opening game of the season for St. Scholastica, the Saints lost in heartbreaking fashion to Viterbo University in the first game of the UW-Stevens Point Tournament on Friday afternoon.

Clinging to a one point lead with 23 seconds to play, the Saints weren't able to maintain possession with time winding down, suffering two steals by Viterbo that moved the V-Hawks into the lead and an eventual 58-55 winning score.

St. Scholastica opened the season with a strong first half, leading the V-Hawks from the opening basket until a 23-23 tie with only 1:13 remaining in the half. Viterbo closed the half on an 8-0 run over the final 2:03 to wrest the lead from the Saints and take a 27-23 lead into the intermission.

The Saints bounced back ahead once again midway through the second half, and didn't trail Viterbo through the next seven minutes but the V-Hawks sank one of two free throws at the 4:45 mark to move back in front, 46-45.

Though behind by as many as six points in the following minutes, the Saints once again battled back to take the lead, this time on a free throw by senior Jessie Stenberg with 23 ticks remaining. But a pair of steals by Viterbo resulted in a pair of layups that doomed the Saints down the stretch.

Stenberg led the team with six rebounds and four assists while contributing nine points in the losing effort. Junior Whitney Latham had 17 points to lead the Saints and added four rebounds and an assist.

Next up for the Saints (0-1) will be the loser of the UW-Stevens Point vs. Lawrence (Iowa) University contest scheduled to follow the Viterbo (1-3) vs. St. Scholastica game.