MVL capitalizes at the line to beat Knights

By JIM BASTIAN

Journal Sports Writer

NEW ULM -- One of the enemies of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran girls basketball team this season -- free throw shooting -- became an ally Saturday night.

The Chargers hit 6 of 8 free throws in the final minute of the game and it was enough to carry MVL to a 66-56 win over Sleepy Eye St. Mary's in the meeting of Tomahawk Conference unbeaten teams.

Leah Morgan led four Chargers in double figures with 16 points. Danielle Kramer finished with 13, Jessica Merseth 12 and Angie Unke 11.

Ashley Mathiowetz paced the Knights (4-1, 6-2) with 16 points. Emily Schwartz added 14.

"We missed our opportunities from the free throw line (in that fourth quarter) and they were cashing them in," said Knights coach Bruce Woitas, who saw his team hit only 9 of 20 charity shots in the game, including hitting just 8 of 13 in the fourth quarter. "It was a two- or four-point game going into the fourth quarter"

"Our team knew that St. Mary's was a great team," commented MVL coach Dave Biedenbender. "They run their offense well and play solid defense."

That solid defense by the Knights saw them take an 8-6 lead early in the game, forcing five Charger turnovers and scoring six points off of them as Ashley Mathiowetz and Julia Fischer came up with steals and hoops.

But back-to-back baskets by Morgan lifted the Chargers to a 12-10 lead. Merseth's putback and a Kramer free throw saw MVL hold a slim 15-14 lead after one quarter.

"We were trying to figure out why we could not get around their picks and we found out that they were just so quick," commented Biedenbender.

The Chargers continued to lead despite the play of Schwartz. The Knights' junior guard used her quickness to account for 10 first-half points.

"She is a very aggressive player for us," commented Woitas. "She hustles all game and is able to do those things for us."

While Schwartz kept the Knights in the game in the first half, it was Morgan, along with the tandem of Merseth and Unke, who held off any kind of St. Mary's rally.

Merseth and Unke hit for baskets that kept MVL on top 23-20 with 3:49 left in the first half. Two Merseth baskets late in the second quarter gave MVL a 29-26 lead at halftime.

But the Knights came back to take a 33-31 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter on baskets by Schwartz and Becky Pelzel.

But back-to-back baskets by Unke -- with Merseth on the bench saddled with her third foul -- lifted MVL to a 35-33 lead and her three-point play two minutes later gave the Chargers a 40-37 lead -- a lead that they never lost.

"I think that, besides our free throws in the fourth quarter, Leah (Morgan) and Angie (Unke) were the difference," said Biedenbender. "Leah made some big shots and Angie came through when we needed her."

The Chargers held the lead and built it to a 58-49 advantage before MVL sank six straight free throws in the final three minutes, outscoring St. Mary's 18-7 in that span.

"Anytime you have two teams that are 4-0 in the conference and you come out and win that game, you have to be happy," said Biedenbender

MVL also won the junior varsity game 50-35. Ruth Olson led MVL with 15 points while Traci Schroepfer notched eight for the Knights.

SESM 14 12 16 14--56

MVL 15 14 15 22--66

SESM (56):Mathiowetz 16, Schwartz 14, Fischer 8, Schumacher 6, Cook 4, Moldan 2, Pelzel 2, Suker 2, Krenz 2.

MVL (66): Morgan 16, Kramer 13, Merseth 12, Unke 11, Buck 6, Dzwonkowski 6, Flatebo 2.