NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Senior Makenna Ash recorded 18 rebounds and became the all-time leading rebounder for St. Olaf College women's basketball, despite the Oles falling to St. Catherine University, 83-77, in overtime at Skoglund Center on Saturday afternoon.
With just over five and a half minutes to play, Ash brought down her 13th rebound of the game to surpass Betsey Daly '17, who held the record with 748 career rebounds. Ash ended the game with 18 rebounds, putting her currently at 754 rebounds in her career. Her 238 rebounds this season are third most by an Ole in a single season since 1990.
St. Kate's (8-11, 5-7 MIAC) sank two three-pointers in the final 34 seconds of regulation, including a three-pointer from Grace Amacher with eight seconds to go to even the score with St. Olaf (6-13, 3-9 MIAC), sending the game into overtime.
The Oles were outscored 13-7 in overtime as the Wildcats drained a three-pointer from Taylor Johnson to go up five with 32 seconds remaining, and a pair of free throws extended the lead to seven with 14 seconds to go to secure the victory.
Sophomore Keegan Mulvihill led the Oles with 16 points, three steals and two rebounds, first year K'Lynn Lewis posted 15 points and four assists, and Ash and junior Ella Skrien each tallied 12 points.
In the first quarter, St. Olaf took a five-point after back-to-back baskets from Mulvihill and Ash two and a half minutes into play. After a layup from Audra Clark at the 4:40 mark, the Wildcats came within two-points of the Oles, making the score 13-11.
Both teams were scoreless for the next two minutes, and St. Kate's took their first lead of the game as Katie Benjamin sank a three-pointer, but St. Olaf would take a 20-18 lead with a first year Camryn Scott basket. The Wildcats would even the score at 20-20 at the end of the period
In the second quarter, St. Olaf went on a 7-0 run and made the score 35-28 with a free throw from Scott and just under five minutes left in the half. The Oles remained on top for the rest of the half as St. Kate's would come as close as three points after Danica Cambrice sank a pair of free throws.
The Oles took their largest lead of the third quarter after Scott hit a jumper, making the score 44-38, but St. Kate's came back and evened the score at 53-53 with 1:53 to go in the period. After a three-pointer from junior Britta Koenen, the Wildcats answered with back-to-back three-pointers and took a three-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
St. Kate's scored the first six points of the fourth period, but an Ella Skrien basket regained the lead for St. Olaf with 2:08 remaining, making the score 65-64.
The Oles extended the lead to as much as five points with a Lewis free throw, but St. Kate's hit two three-pointers in the final 34 seconds, including a three-pointer from Amacher with eight seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.
In overtime, St. Kate's took a four point lead, but a pair of free throws from Lewis brought the Oles withing two at, 74-72, with 1:52 to go. After a pair of Wildcat free throws, Mulvihill finished a basket inside to bring St. Olaf back within two, but a three-pointer from Taylor Johnson and a pair free throws from Clark extended St. Kate's lead to seven, as they would hold it for the rest of the contest.
The Oles and the Wildcats each recorded nine three-pointers in the game, but St. Kate's registered 41.8 percent shooting from the field, including 50 percent from three-point range in the second half, while holding St. Olaf to 38.5 percent shooting in the game.
St. Olaf returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 30, as they travel to Winona, Minn. for a MIAC contest against Saint Mary's, beginning at 7 p.m.