Sophomore center DeJurnett Prioleau had two putback baskets to fuel a game-closing 8-3 run in the final 4:00 as the host Tommies (10-9 overall, 9-7 MIAC) rallied to beat Carleton (14-5, 11-5) in MIAC women’s basketball play Wednesday night at UST’s Schoenecker Arena.
In building its first three-game winning streak of 2006-07, St. Thomas shot 43% on the game and improved to 6-2 at home this season. The Toms trailed 32-29 at halftime and still were down 51-45 with 6:30 remaining before taking control.
Tommie senior forward Melissa Gotchnik had 15 points, Prioleau had 12 points and seven rebounds, sophomore forward Jessica Katch had 12 points, and senior guard Melissa Keiser scored nine.
The Knights’ leading scorer, sophomore Hannah Oken-Berg, picked up her second, third and fourth fouls in a 52-second stretch late in the game, then fouled out later with 1:20 left. With Oken-Berg sidelined, the Toms closed the game on an 18-9 run, including three 3-point baskets.
Oken-Berg finished with 16 points, Isler had 13 points and five steals, and Sarah Lincoln had 12 points despite missing most of the second half in foul trouble. Megan Mileusnic had 10 rebounds.
Keiser's 3-point basket with 3:32 left erased the last Carleton lead and put the Toms ahead 58-57. Prioleau's consecutive second-chance baskets put St. Thomas ahead 62-57 with 2:12 to go.
Isler's floater as the shot clock expired pulled Carleton within 62-59 with 1:39 left. Still down three points, Carleton had the ball with 33 seconds left, but the Knights didn't get off a shot until :03 left and drew a foul. Down three, Lincoln made one foul shot and missed the rim on the second.
UST inbounded and was fouled, and Sheena Porter-Wrzos made one of two free throws with :01.5 remaining. The Knights rebounded the second miss but were unable to get off a desperation shot at the buzzer.
The Tommies are home Saturday to face Bethel (3 p.m.), while Carleton is home to play St. Catherine.
see" class="red" rel=nofollow>http://www.stthomas.edu/tommies/WBB/stats/1-31-wbb.htm">see box score here