Story written by Mike Pankow, Bay College SID
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LYNWOOD, IL – Despite trailing for the majority of the game, the Norse Women's Basketball Team (2-5) snapped a five-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, taking down the South Suburban Bulldogs (2-2) by a final score of 59-58.

The two teams looked evenly matched in the early going, though it would be the Bulldogs in the lead throughout the first quarter.  Cierra Molina (SO, Rudyard, MI) hit a three-pointer to make the score 13-12 at the end of the first quarter.
 

Holly Wardynski (SO, Ontonagon, MI) was able to finish a basket at the rim while being fouled minutes later.  Her subsequent free throw tied the game up, and Lauryn Bloniarz (SO, Perronville, MI) knocked down two free throws on the next possession, giving the Norse a 17-15 lead.

The Norse would have to survive yet another second quarter cold snap, as they would connect on just three field goals in the period.  Bree Arsenault (FR, Hermansville, MI) was responsible for one of those shots, hitting a big jumper from behind the three-point arc to pull the team to within four.

Fortunately for the Norse, they were able to overcome the cold shooting by getting to the free throw line.  Bay went eight of eleven from the charity stripe in the second quarter, and trailed 31-27 at halftime.

Bay College continued to struggle offensively into the second half, allowing the Bulldogs to build a 40-29 lead.  Bloniarz finally hit the first field goal of the second half with 4:26 remaining in the third quarter.  Molina followed that with three-point baskets on consecutive possessions, and South Suburban was clinging to a three-point lead late in the third quarter.

The Norse fought to keep the game close in the fourth, but the Bulldogs seemed to answer every Bay College advance.  Blonairz found Arsenault underneath the basket to tie the game at 49, but South Suburban's Cayla Turner (SO, Oak Forrest, IL) snatched the lead back with a shot on the following possession.  Kennedy Englund (FR, Rock, MI) hit a jump shot to tie the game once again, but Nia Hurt (SO, East Chicago, IN) hit a clutch three-pointer to make the score 54-51.
 

The two teams continued to trade baskets in the waning minutes.  The Norse found themselves down five, but Brooke Mannor (SO, Gwinn, MI) hit two free throws with 52 seconds left, cutting the lead to three.  Wardynski stole the ball on the ensuing possession and was fouled, but she was only able to connect on one of two from the charity stripe.

Trailing by two with just seconds on the clock, the Norse defense stepped up again, securing another steal, giving themselves a chance to tie or take the lead.  They would not get a shot up on the possession however, as South Suburban committed a foul, sending Wardynski back to the line.  This time she hit both attempts, tying the game at 58 with 11.9 seconds remaining

The Bulldogs called a timeout to setup their attempt to win the game with their last possession.  The Norse had other plans, and a double-team trap just across the half court line put Wardynski in the middle of the action again.  Just when it looked like the South Suburban guard was going to slip through the defenders, the ball was knocked loose and picked up by Wardynski who streaked toward the basket.  The Bulldogs had no other option but to foul her before she could put the shot up, sending her to the line with 1.3 seconds on the clock.
 

Wardynski left the first free throw short, but was on the mark with her second.  The Bulldogs were not able to get a shot off, and the Norse, who only held the lead briefly for three times during the game escaped with a one-point win on the road.

Wardynski went eight of 13 from the free throw line and scored 16 points while pulling in seven rebounds and dealing out five assists in the game.  Bloniarz finished with 12 points and six rebounds.

Hurt led the Bulldogs with 12 points and five rebounds.  Karletta Rucker (FR, Chicago Heights, IL) was good for 11 points while Destiny Hughes (FR, Midlothian, IL) was credited with seven assists to go with her nine points.

The Norse will host Milwaukee Area Technical College on Wednesday evening at 5 pm.  Due to safety concerns fans will not be allowed to attend the game, but the game will be broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 FM and www.radioresultsnetwork.com.