UW-Superior 87, Martin Luther 71
NEW ULM, Minn. (January 27, 2018) – The Yellowjackets were firing on all cylinders once again Saturday evening as four 'Jackets scored in double-digits to beat the Martin Luther Knights for the second time this season.
Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) got the easy basket in the opening eight seconds of the game, assisted by Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti). The Knights immediately answered with a 3-pointer to take a very early lead. The teams traded baskets until midway through the quarter when Kontny made 1-of-2 free throws to get the lead to four points. Hannah Norlin (Litchfield, Minn./Litchfield) then added a basket after a Brittany Laehn (Gilmanton, Wis./Gilmanton) pass to make it 19-13 Yellowjackets at 2:03. Taylor Kane (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids) then had a three-point play in the layup and free throw to make it a nine point gap, followed by another layup and a bucket from Norlin to stretch the lead to 13 points after one.
The Knights scored five straight in the opening minute to make it 26-17 Yellowjackets, but Jade Tucker (White Bear Lake, Minn./White Bear Lake) had the answer on a layup in the paint. Superior continued to click when a defensive rebound from Larson transitioned to the outlet pass to Kontny for the fastbreak basket. Thereafter, a steal from Kontny led to more fastbreak point as Eva Reinertsen (Duluth, Minn./Homeschooled) laid it in and knocked down the and-one free throw at 3:52. Reinertsen would continue to play well, getting the final basket of the half, on a pass from Larson with 12 seconds remaining. 'Jackets up 43-27 after two quarters.
Superior continued to roll in the third, getting buckets from Kontny, Norlin, Reinertsen, and Tucker. The lead was 19 points at the 6:07 mark. Emily Carpenter (St. Peter, Minn./St. Peter) hit 1-of-2 free throws, and Amelia Leger (Andover, Minn./Andover) the and-one layup on back-to-back possessions to hold the big lead at 4:08. Reinertsen and Laehn would step out beyond the arc to hit 3-pointer for the 'Jackets in the last few minutes, making it a 71-50 game at the end of quarter number three.
The Knights would cut into the lead, getting to within 14 points around the 7:44 mark of the final period, but Leger tacked on two more on the fastbreak, after a Laehn steal. A few more baskets from Norlin, Kane, and Tucker would help seal another win for the 'Jackets, and the second this season over the Knights.
Kontny led the Yellowjackets with 15 points, and Tucker added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the double-double. Norlin had 12 points and two blocks, while Reinertsen scored 12 on 5-of-11 shooting.
Superior shot the ball at 49 percent clip, while they stifled Martin Luther allowing only 37 percent from the floor.
The Knights' Grace Schultz led all scorers with 24 points.
Superior will play St. Scholastica this Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. in Duluth, Minn.
