Brunson’s school record 39 points not enough as Women’s Basketball falls to Luther

DECORAH, Iowa – The Coe College women’s basketball team suffered an 81-68 defeat to Luther College Thursday evening in an American Rivers Conference matchup. Coe and Luther battled in the first quarter but a strong close to the period gave the hosts a five-point advantage after one. The Norse fought off an early charge from Coe in the second and extended the lead before the halftime break, scoring 14 of the final 18 points to lead 36-28. The hosts continued to click in the third quarter, quickly pushing the lead to 15 at 50-35 with 3:51 left in the third. Coe had another quick spurt, scoring 10 unanswered points to make it 50-45 before the end of the quarter. Luther scored the final four points of the frame and extended the lead in the fourth, holding a 61-49 lead with 6:48 to play. Coe got back within six points before the five-minute mark but Luther saw out the victory in the final stretch, scoring 17 of the final 27 points. Taylor Brunson had a historic effort in the loss, scoring a school-record 39 points for the Kohawks while adding six rebounds. Brunson was 10-of-18 from the floor and 17-of-22 from the line. 
 
LUTHER 81 – COE 68
GAME FACTS

• The teams traded buckets in the opening minutes of the first half but seven early points from Brunson gave Coe a 12-10 lead midway through the period. Luther gained control of the score before the end of the period, ending the quarter on a 9-2 run to lead 19-14 after 10 minutes. The Kohawks dominated the first few minutes of the second quarter, scoring 10 of the opening 13 points as Averiel Brady started the stretch with a momentum-gaining 3. Brunson added seven more points during the stretch, giving the Kohawks a 24-22 lead with 6:26 left in the half. The Norse put together another strong close to the quarter, ending the half on a 14-4 run as the hosts held the Kohawks to just 1-of-7 shooting during the run. Luther’s lead grew in the opening six minutes of the third quarter, using a 14-7 spurt to push the leads to double digits at 50-35. The Kohawks got back into the game with a quick 10-0 run, getting buckets from Taryn Kravig and Caydee Kirkham before five straight from Brunson. Luther had the last say in the frame, scoring four points to take a 54-45 lead into the final frame. Coe slowly chipped away at the lead, pulling within six at…