DE PERE – St. Norbert College opened its campaign with a win over College of St. Scholastica, pulling away with crucial free throws late in the fourth quarter to pick up a 69-62 win in the Green Knights first game of the Nicolet National Bank Tip-Off Tournament at Mulva Family Fitness and Health Center.  

After a back-and-forth opening quarter that saw the Saints hold a six-point lead, the Green Knights were able to take back the lead thanks to a four-point run from Oakley Witteck. The Saints would take the lead back just before halftime, 28-25.  

Shooting for St. Norbert improved in every quarter, and in the third shot 66.67 percent from the field, including two three pointers. One of them, coming from Macey Mercer, gave St. Norbert its biggest lead of the game at that point with four points. St. Norbert went on to hold a three-point lead going into the fourth quarter.  

Free throws proved to be crucial for the Green Knights in the last ten minutes, as they converted several opportunities to open the period. Scoring in the paint was another big highlight of the quarter, as St. Norbert shot 72 percent. 

Three straight layups in the paint by Taylor Thiry gave the Green Knights some breathing room in the final two minutes, as the Saints faded with only one field goal in that frame.  

The Green Knights shot 60.5 percent from the floor (26-for-43) and outrebounded St. Scholastica 28-23. Nine Green Knights were able to crack the score column. Thiry was the game's leading scorer with 18 points, while Marnie Kahl added 11 from the bench. Mercer, Rose Hahn and Avery Bierowski all had eight points.  

St. Scholastica shot 44 percent (22-for-50). Ava Haus led the Saints with 14 points.  

St. Norbert will face Calvin University at 3.p.m. Saturday in its second game of the tournament.