HONOLULU, Hawaii – St. Norbert College wrapped up the Hoops in Hawaii Classic with a split, falling to McMurry University 73-68 in a hard-fought non-conference matchup at Hawaii Pacific University.
The Green Knights (4-5, 2-0 NACC) opened the game quickly as
Marnie Kahl scored two early baskets to give St. Norbert a 4-0 start. Both teams traded scores throughout the remainder of the quarter, with McMurry edging ahead late to take a 14-12 lead after one. St. Norbert regained momentum early in the second quarter with back-to-back layups from Kahl and
Reese Sellers to briefly move in front.
Rose Hahn hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 21 before a basket from
Taylor Thiry gave the Green Knights the lead, but the War Hawks countered with a fastbreak layup in the final seconds to take a slim edge into the break.
Both sides continued to exchange baskets to open the second half. Thiry completed a three-point play to push St. Norbert in front by three before McMurry responded late in the quarter, leaving the Green Knights trailing by five heading into the fourth.
St. Norbert chipped away in the fourth quarter and briefly pulled ahead midway through the period on another three-point play from Thiry. The game went back and forth down the stretch with key scoring from
Olivia Conway (pictured) before the War Hawks built a six-point cushion with just 14 seconds remaining. Despite a late 3-pointer from Conway to cut the deficit to three, the Green Knights were unable to complete the comeback.
The Green Knights shot 41.1 percent from the floor (30-for-73). Thiry finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists, just one assist shy of a triple-double. Kahl also recorded 18 points, while Hahn added 12 and Conway had 10.
Avery Bierowski led the team with 12 boards.
McMurry shot 40.3 percent from the floor (27-for-67), led by Helena Chadwick with 29 points.