Women's Basketball News Releases
Paczosa finishes with double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds
Coming up - Friday, Nov. 21, at Lakeland Tip-off Tournament, Sheboygan, Wis., vs. Northland, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 22, at Lakeland Tip-off Tournament, Sheboygan, Wis.; vs. Lakeland or Lawrence, 2 or 4 p.m.
Ram review - Cornell junior Kristin Paczosa (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove) buried a pair of free throws with 11 seconds left in regulation to propel the Rams to a 56-54 comeback win over Bethany Lutheran in the season opener Saturday night at the Small Multi-Sport Center in Mount Vernon.
The Rams (1-0) rallied from a 17-point deficit late in the first half and completed the comeback with a couple clutch plays in the final minute. Cornell freshman Teresa Cecchetti (Dixon, Ill./Dixon) hit a jumper that tied the score at 54-54 with 31 seconds left to play.
The Vikings misfired on the next possession. Paczosa grabbed the rebound, was fouled and calmly drained both ends of the 1-and-1 for the game-winning points. After a timeout, Bethany Lutheran came up empty on a short baseline jumper as time expired.
"We had positive contributions from everyone," Cornell head coach Brent Brase said. "The most important aspect of the game was that we battled back when we fell behind. Tough kids and team chemistry allowed us to do that."
Paczosa, who just joined the team for practices earlier in the week following the volleyball season, came off the bench to record a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. The 5-foot-10 forward also had a game-high four blocks in 24 minutes.
"Overall, Kristin had a real balanced game," Brase said. "She scored, rebounded and helped on the defensive end with her blocks and by taking a charge."
Senior Tiffany Cowan (Atchison, Kan./Truman) finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Cecchetti added 10 points, eight rebounds and three steals in her collegiate debut. Freshman Caitlyn Book (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata) had nine points and five rebounds.
The Rams trailed 32-15 with less than a minute to play in the first half. Cornell responded with an 18-2 spurt over the next six minutes to tie the game at 34-34.
The Rams forced 23 turnovers and held Bethany Lutheran to 27.6 percent shooting for the game. Cornell made 14-of-17 free throws while the Vikings went 18-of-27 from the line.
"Our overall defensive effort was good, but we are still capable of getting a lot better as the season progresses," Brase said. "To limit a team to 27 percent shooting is a good start. It was a good opening victory."
