Rams score first win over Luther since 2003

Cornell came through down the stretch and secured a long-awaited win over league foe Luther Jan. 12 in the Small Multi-Sport Center.

Sophomore guard Kathryn Schilling (Dubuque/Dubuque Senior) buried a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:28 remaining, sparking an 11-4 run that propelled the Rams to a 61-54 victory. It marked the program's first win over the Norse since taking a 64-58 road decision on Jan. 3, 2003, and ended a 13-game skid in the series.

“We didn't shoot the ball well, but I was really pleased with our overall game against Luther,” Cornell head coach Brent Brase said. “We played with an edge. We took care of the ball and did the things we needed to be successful.”

Cornell averaged just 8.6 turnovers during its recent three-game stretch, which included a 72-54 loss at Central Saturday and a 63-46 setback at home to rival Coe Monday night. The Rams gave themselves a chance with solid floor play in all three contests, although simply had trouble knocking down shots.

The Rams shot 34.2 percent against Luther, 26.9 percent against Central, 29.3 against Coe. Cornell attempted 39 more total shots in the three games.

“We did great in all three games with our turnovers (including a season-low six against Luther),” said Brase, whose team moved to 7-8 overall, 2-6 in the IIAC at the halfway point of the conference season. “That is really one of the key components to success because it allows you to get more shots while eliminating easy looks off turnovers for your opponent.

“Overall, the team is doing a great job on and off the court. They practice very hard and with a lot of enthusiasm. More importantly, they really care for and believe in each other.”

Against Luther, Camille Marie-Lidd (Marion/Cedar Rapids Washington) led three Rams in double figures with 17 points to go with eight rebounds. Freshman Caitlin Bisinger (Monmouth/Midland) had 13 points and four assists while Schilling chipped in 10 points and five rebounds.

Schilling, Bisinger, Marie-Lidd, freshman Renee Tzeo (Portland, Ore./Reynolds) and junior Morgan Woods (Milwaukee, Wis./University School of Milwaukee) all contributed points during Cornell's decisive game-ending spurt against the Norse (5-11, 1-6).

Bisinger had a strong all-around game against Central, draining three 3-point goals and netting a team-high 13 points. She also grabbed seven rebounds – six offensive – and came away with three steals. Tzeo and Rose Waskosky (Falcon, Colo./Falcon) had eight points apiece. Marie-Lidd finished with seven points, nine rebounds and three steals.

The Rams trailed Central 30-20 at halftime. Cornell pulled to within six points in the second half before the Dutch took control with a 17-3 run. The Rams forced the Dutch (4-12, 1-6) into 18 turnovers, while committing only nine.

“Against Central, we didn't play with much of an edge defensively and really didn't shoot the ball well,” Brase said. “It was disappointing from the fact that we got good shots and just didn't knock them down.”

Marie-Lidd's 16 points and nine rebounds weren't enough to carry the Rams past a strong Coe squad Monday. The Kohawks gained early momentum and took a 31-18 lead into halftime. Coe (13-2, 6-1) kept the margin in double digits the entire second half.

Bisinger turned in 11 points, reaching double figures for the seventh time in eight games. She also had seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Schilling added six boards.

Ball security – The Rams rank fifth in the IIAC in turnover margin at +0.80 per game. That average has improved dramatically with a +8.0 ratio over the last three games. Cornell's last three opponents have turned the ball over 50 times, to the Rams' 26.