2001/2002 Game Results Last Updated: November 24, 2001

November 24, 2001  

Standout guard thwarts Huskies

Marquette signee gets hot at right time

By Mark Andrew Trapani
Leader-Telegram staff

Carolyn Kieger shook off a second straight subpar shooting night to help lead the Roseville, Minn., girls basketball team to a 69-65 overtime victory over Eau Claire North on Saturday night at Zorn Arena.

Kieger, who made just nine of 29 shots Friday in the Raiders' 45-41 loss to Eau Claire Memorial on the opening night of the Eau Claire Thanksgiving Showcase, connected on just seven of 26 shots against the Huskies.

The 5-foot-6 senior guard, who has secured an NCAA Division I basketball scholarship from Marquette University, did make all 12 of her free-throw attempts, including six in the overtime period, and finished with a game-high 32 points to help the Raiders (1-1) nip the Huskies (1-1).

North got team highs of 22 points and seven rebounds from Michelle Burns. Amanda Eisold added 17 points and Anne Connell 10 for the Huskies.

Jill Crandall chipped in 17 for Roseville.

"We needed this win," Roseville coach Scott Lauinger said. "We have such a young team. This says a lot about them. They should be very excited."

With 3 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the Huskies leading 60-58, Kieger lowered her shoulder and began spinning like an out of control toy top toward the basket.

As she whirled down the lane, she blindly flipped a shot toward the basket. The ball kicked off the rim, but she was fouled.

After picking herself off the hardwood, Kieger, who has been a varsity starter since the seventh grade, calmly walked to the free-throw line and swished both of her attempts.

"We fouled the wrong person," Huskies coach Dan Sippel said as he shook his head after the game. "It's hard when you go up against that talented of a player. She's seen it all and is excellent ballplayer."

North trailed 18-11 after the first quarter. But sparked by six points from Burns, it went on 10-2 run to open the second quarter to take the lead.

The Huskies, who converted 27 of 35 free throws in the game, didn't relinquish their advantage until there was just more than a minute remaining in the overtime period.

"The final score is what matters," Lauinger said with a smile. "We would have been happy win or lose. Our kids really played hard."

The final outcome was a little harder to digest for the Huskies.

"Physically and emotionally we're exhausted," Sippel said. "We battled hard. But it's early in the season, and it's a nonconference game.

"Nobody likes this loss, but we will learn from this."

EAU CLAIRE NORTH (65)

FG-A FT-A TP: Amanda Eisold 4-12 9-13 17, Heather Dekan 4-6 0-1 8, Michelle Burns 7-11 8-8 22, Tessa Pecha 1-3 2-3 4, Anne Connell 2-3 6-6 10, Corisa DeMoe 1-2 0-0 2, Rian Bauerkemper 0-3 0-0 0, Trina Harper 0-4 2-4 2, Jessica Groh 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-44 27-35 65.

ROSEVILLE, MINN. (69)

Carolyn Kieger 7-26 12-12 32, Amanda Hanson 1-11 2-4 4, Kelsey Zenk 2-3 0-1 4, Sarah Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Jill Crandall 5-8, 6-10 17, Alyssa Klinkenberg 1-1 0-0 2, Lindsay Fondow 3-4 1-1 7, Lindsay Kaufmann 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 21-60 21-28 69.

Eau Claire North 11 23 12 14 5 -- 65

Roseville, Minn. 18 10 14 18 9 -- 69

3-point goals: North 0-3 (Eisold 0-1, Pecha 0-1, Bauerkemper 0-1), Roseville 4-20 (Kieger 3-12, Crandall 1-1, Hanson 0-6, Zenk 0-1). Rebounds: Eau Claire North 36 (Burns 7), Roseville 33 (Fondow 6). Fouls: North 21, Roseville 24. Fouled out: North, Connell, Dekan; Roseville, Fondow, Zenk, Brown. Turnovers: Eau Claire North 17, Roseville 12.

RECORDS: Roseville 1-1, Eau Claire North 1-1.