INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN – A late charge by the Bay College Norse (1-2) would come up short, as the comeback attempt ran out of time and the United Tribes Technical College Thunderbirds (2-2) by a final score of 64-59.

The Thunderbirds would take control in the first quarter and stretch out to a ten point lead in the opening frame.  A poor first half shooting effort would put the Norse in a hole, as they would connect on just eight of thirty attempts.  The Thunderbirds would take advantage of the situation, building a 17-point lead by shooting 45.2%.  Included in that percentage was hitting six of 15 from behind the three-point arc.  Bay College would trail by a score of 34-21 at the halftime break.

The Thunderbirds would continue to build a lead in the third quarter.  United Tribes would extend their lead to 23 points and looked to be in control of the matchup.  The Norse would trail by 20 heading into the final period. 

Bay would make a run in the fourth and give themselves a chance, outscoring their opponents 21-6 in the final period.  The Norse would turn the tides shooting-wise, hitting 16 of 32 attempts from the field in the second half.  Time would run short in the height of the Bay College run, as they would close the lead to within single digits late.  The Thunderbirds would hold on to win by five.

"We didn't do a very good job keeping them off the offensive glass and missed too many baskets in the paint early," said Head Coach Rob Robinson.  "That put us in a hole.  I was proud how the players at the end fought and almost pulled us all the way back."

JuliAnn Wickman (FR, Felch, MI) would lead the Bay offensive attack with ten points on five of nine shooting.  Taylor Hunter (FR, Gladstone, MI) ended with nine points.  Jordan Belleville (SO, St. Ignace, MI) and Elizabeth Goodacre (FR, Rapid River, MI) would add eight points, while Jordan Kraemer (SO, Norway, MI) would score seven points and grab eight points.

Tariq Brownotter (SO, McLaughlin, SD) would lead all scorers with 16 points on four of eight shooting from three-point.  Jaelyn Two Hearts (FR, Fort Totten, ND), Danielle Pelteir (SO, Dunseth, ND), and Kierra Johnson (FR, Reno, NV) all added nine points. 

The Norse will look to bounce back tomorrow as they will face Bismark State College.  The game will tip off at noon at Inver Hills Community College.