Vikings outlast Warriors in double overtime
By Matt Oliver
MANKATO, Minn. – The Waldorf College women’s basketball team fell short in a 92-83 double-overtime loss to Bethany Lutheran College on Friday.
Maintaining possession proved to be problematic for the Warriors (0-4), who committed 30 turnovers. NCAA Division III’s Vikings (1-0), who turned the ball over 18 times, collected 19 steals en route to a 25-17 advantage in points off turnovers and a 12-8 edge in fast-break points.
Bethany Lutheran cashed in at the free-throw line, converting on 24-of-36 (66.7 percent) attempts. Waldorf struggled at the charity stripe, going 13-of-29 (44.8 percent.
“Details win ball games,” Waldorf coach Katie Schutjer said. “Turnovers and free throws are two areas that matter in close games and those are areas we were poor in.”
Jamerka Martin led the Warriors with 21 points. The junior guard from Milwaukee shot 43.8 percent, going 7-of-16 from the field and 3-of-6 (50 percent) from 3-point range while handing out four assists and grabbing three rebounds.
Senior Mackenzie Gott recorded a double-double, scoring 15 points and ripping down a career-high 16 rebounds to give Waldorf a 56-51 advantage on the boards. Gott went 7-of-15 (46.7 percent) from the floor.
Freshman Taylor Fricke posted career-highs with 14 points and eight rebounds. Fricke shot 5-of-11 (45.5 percent) on the night and also came away with two steals for the Warriors.
Waldorf junior Miriah Carruth provided 10 points, five boards, two assists and two steals.
Freshman Samantha Birkes added seven points and three rebounds for the Warriors. Ameh Ogbemudia chipped in six points and the freshman also pulled down four boards.
Waldorf received three points apiece from juniors Jenna Quina and Molly Greenfield. Sophomore Jessica Denholm and freshman Kassidy Bunger rounded out the scoring effort with two points each. Denholm dished out two assists. Quina collected six rebounds while Bunger contributed three boards and two assists.
Haley Sandin powered the Vikings with a game-high 26 points, shooting 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) from the field. Five players scored in double figures for Bethany Lutheran, which received 19 points from Minnie Frederick-Childress behind a 43.8-percent (7-of-16) shooting performance.
Dakota Ellinghuysen turned in a double-double, dropping in 15 points and corralling 12 boards. She went 6-of-10 (60 percent) from the floor while leading the Vikings with seven steals and six assists. Briana Brandts also recorded a double-double with 14 points and a game-high 19 rebounds. Christina Wickingson contributed 12 points.
The Warriors shot 31-of-73 (42.5 percent) from the field and 8-of-24 (33.3 percent) behind the arc. Bethany Lutheran finished 33-of-81 (40.7 percent) from the floor and was held to a 2-of-16 (12.5-percent) effort from the perimeter.
Waldorf outscored the Vikings in the paint by a 34-32 margin and held a 20-13 advantage in second-chance points.
The game featured nine lead changes and five ties. On top 20-17 through one quarter, the Warriors stretched their lead to seven points and owned a 40-36 advantage at halftime.
After being outscored 23-15, Waldorf trailed 59-55 at the end of the third quarter. The Vikings led 64-57 with 7 minutes, 31 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Warriors used a 13-6 run to force overtime.
Waldorf led by four points on three occasions in the first overtime. A jump shot from Gott gave the Warriors a 78-74 edge with 2:28 left on the clock before Bethany Lutheran converted on four consecutive free throws to bring the game to a tie.
The Vikings never trailed in the final extra period and outscored Waldorf 14-5 to secure the win.
The Warriors look to bounce back, aiming for their first victory of the season as they host Grace University (2-4) next Friday at 6 p.m.