Luther converted a layup on the game’s final possession and spoiled Cornell’s home opener, 44-43, in women’s basketball action Sunday afternoon inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
Cornell junior guard Kali March buried a pair of 3-pointers in the final 1:11 of regulation, including a clutch shot from the wing that pushed Cornell ahead 43-42 with eight seconds remaining.
The Norse (4-1) called timeout with six seconds left, advancing the ball to their front court for the last play. Lizzie Kauls took a pass from the left wing and drove all the way to the hoop for the winning points just before the final horn sounded.
March paced the Rams (1-3) with 10 points, knocking down three 3-pointers. She also fueled an active defense with eight steals, two shy of Cornell’s single-game record.
Luther turned the ball over 21 times and shot just 27.4 percent from the field against the Rams’ pressure. The Norse made up for that with a 55-34 advantage in rebounds, including 19 offensive boards.
Madison Wauters and Rachel Adewusi chipped in eight points apiece for the Rams, who led 23-12 midway through the second quarter. Megan Gandrup totaled six points, five rebounds and five assists. Ani’ja Simmons and Adewusi each had five rebounds.
Cornell registered 16 steals, including three by A’ryn Jackson.
Kauls led Luther with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Earlier in the week, the Rams lost to Wartburg 65-41.
Simmons and Osborn netted 10 points apiece to pace the injury-riddled Rams, who had 13 players see court time. Wauters pitched in eight points, while Simmons grabbed a team-high four rebounds. Jackson collected two of the team’s seven steals.
The Rams forced Wartburg into 20 turnovers and shot 9-of-13 from the foul line. The Knights countered with a 50-26 rebound advantage and a 16-of-20 touch from the charity stripe.
The Knights, who have made six consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament, limited the Rams to 25.0-percent shooting for the game.