DECORAH, Iowa –
Caitlin Navratil set the Nebraska Wesleyan single season scoring record in the third quarter of Saturday's women's basketball game at Luther College, but that was the only bright spot for the Prairie Wolves as they fell 78-50 to the Norse in the regular season finale in Decorah, Iowa.
NWU ends the regular season at 12-13 overall and 7-9 in American Rivers Conference play. They earned the No. 6 seed for the conference postseason tournament and will play at No. 3 seed Simpson College on Tuesday night (Feb. 19).
The Prairie Wolves fell behind big early trailing 16-5 at the end of the first quarter as they made only 2-13 from the field for 15.4 percent. It didn't get much better in the second quarter with NWU shooting 4-14 for 28.6 percent. NWU made only six field goals and one free throw in the first 20 minutes to fall behind 34-15 at the half.
In the second half the Prairie Wolves were able to score 35 points but their overall total of 50 was the lowest scoring output of the season.
Navratil needed six points to break the NWU single season scoring record that was set by Sharon Holscher in 1982. She buried a 3-pointer with 1:41 left in the 3
rd quarter to put her past Holscher's previous record of 489. She ended the game with 15 points giving her 499 on the season. She also moved into 3
rd on the career scoring charts in the game.
The only other bright spot in the game was the 3-point shooting of
Mikenzie Delgado. Delgado was 5-5 from 3-point range, hitting three in a row in the third quarter. She equaled Navratil's 15 points to share game high honors.
Luther used their size and length to bother NWU all game forcing the Prairie Wolves into 22 turnovers. The Norse also held a big advantage on the galls with a +26 advantage in rebounding. Luther had 20 offensive rebounds.
Sarah Holtz and Madison Spence both posted double-doubles for the Norse. Holtz had 19 points and 10 rebounds with Spence finishing with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
NWU now prepares for the American Rivers postseason tournament, making their second appearance in the past three years.
