HOLLAND, Mich. - The Carroll University women's basketball team lost to Finlandia University 83-78 in the final round of the Hope College Tip-Off Tournament at DeVos Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.
It was the second consecutive nonconference road loss for Carroll, which generated a season-high point total but dropped to 0-3 overall.
As the game remained tied 76-76 with time winding down late in the fourth quarter, Finlandia answered with a decisive 7-2 run to pull out a nail-biting come-from-behind victory.
Junior guard/forward Julia Daavettila ignited the crucial run by converting a pressure-packed, baseline 3-point basket from the far right corner with 38.4 seconds remaining.
It proved to be the turning point as Carroll struggled to maintain its focus and finish on several key possessions down the stretch.
Freshman guard/forward Hannah Kloehn (Marshfield, Wis.) made two free throws to trim the deficit to 80-78 with 16 seconds left but the Pioneers couldn't get any closer.
Junior guard Brittney Wald (Antigo, Wis.) scored a team-high 21 points with five rebounds and three assists to lead Carroll, which shot 46 percent from field-goal range, converted seven 3-pointers and made 13 of 19 free throws. Junior forward Morgan Lund (Mondovi, Wis.) contributed her first double-double of the season by scoring 17 points and ripping down 11 rebounds.
Freshman guard Caylee Koker (Kenosha, Wis.) had 16 points and five rebounds with sophomore guard Sara Hartl (Racine, Wis.) adding 15 points and four rebounds for the Pioneers, who led 50-36 at halftime but fell victim to a 21-6 run in the third quarter.
Kloehn had nine points and five rebounds for Carroll, which outrebounded the Lions 44-39 in the physical contest.
Daavettila finished with a game-high 24 points, 12 rebounds and four assists for Finlandia, which won its first game of the season to improve to 1-1 overall. Junior guard Brooke Turin followed with 18 points and junior guard/forward Kelsie Richards had 15 points for the Lions, who made four critical free throws within the final 13 seconds to seal the victory.
