EAU CLAIRE - A change of scenery in the Chippewa Valley did St. Norbert College some good, as the Green Knights fought to a 68-62 win over UW-Eau Claire in a non-conference game at Sonnentag Event Center.
The Green Knights (4-1) picked up only their second win in 16 games at Eau Claire, but the game was the first for St. Norbert in the Blugolds' brand new arena.
Eau Claire led most of the first quarter, leading 13-11 after the first 10 minutes. St. Norbert took a second-quarter lead when
Avery Bierowski's jumper was true for a 16-15 edge at the 8:46 mark. The Green Knights would hold the lead the rest of the quarter, leading by as many as six points before settling on a 26-24 halftime lead.
The Blugolds would battle back, taking a 36-32 lead with 3:55 left in the third quarter. St. Norbert responded with a key run, going on a 14-3 spurt the rest of the period.
Casey Jepson hit a 3-pointer and then converted a conventional three-point play on consecutive possessions for a 39-36 lead with 2:56 left. Eau Claire cut it to 40-39 but
Charley Mullen's basket gave St. Norbert some breathing room.
Taylor Thiry converted a basket and Bierowski hit a pair of free throws for a 46-39 lead after three quarters.
St. Norbert looked like it would run away with it when it took a 58-46 lead on a conventional three-point play by Jepson with 4:33 to go, but Eau Claire would make a last-ditch rally. The Blugolds went on a 7-0 run over the next 1:02 to get to within five points. St. Norbert would keep its lead to at least two possessions until Eau Claire made it a three-point game at 65-62 with 23 seconds left, but the Green Knights made 3 of 4 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
The Green Knights shot 41.5 percent (22-for-53) from the floor and were a creditable 18-for-21 (85.7 percent) at the free throw line. St. Norbert also committed just nine fouls in the game. Thiry had a game-high 18 points with nine rebounds. Jepson had 17 points, while Bierowski (pictured) had 10 points and five rebounds.
Eau Claire shot 37.5 percent (24-for-64) and hoisted 30 three-point field goal attempts, making eight (26.7 percent). Kyla Overskei had 17 points, while Reanna Hutchinson added 16 points for the Blugolds.
