STORM LAKE, Iowa (February 6, 2021) - Senior Cassy Miller scored a career-high 17 points, Olivia Larsen added 16, and the Buena Vista women's basketball team picked up a thrilling 69-65 victory over Luther College on Saturday evening inside of Siebens Fieldhouse.

The Norse, who went 6-of-16 from downtown in the contest, made a big one from beyond the arc to give them a 63-62 lead with a minute and a half left in the fourth.  BVU, which went to the free-throw line 36 times in the contest, scored their final seven points from the charity stripe, including a pair of big ones from Miller inside the final 15 seconds.  She also came away with a big steal after missing an attempt and was then fouled where she went onto make 1-of-2 to secure the win.

Luther led 15-10 after one quarter and pushed that cushion into double digits at 22-12 two minutes into the second.  A layup by Miller with just over three minutes left in the half capped a 13-4 run that brought the Beavers back within a point.  The Norse nailed a three-pointer in the closing seconds to go up four and eventually led 33-31 at the break.

BVU outscored the Norse by eight in the third quarter and led 54-48 heading to the final stanza.  It was back-and-forth until Luther got consecutive layups to pull even at 60-60 and then its three-pointer to take the late one-point lead.  The Beavers managed only three made field goals in the frame but did convert 8-of-12 at the line to help put an end to their 19-game conferece losing skid.

Miller finished 6-of-13 from the field and made two of the team's three long range buckets.  The Beavers struggled for most of the night from beyond the arc, converting only 3-of-21 attempts.  Miller also dished out three assists and matched a career-best with four steals.  Larsen scored eight of her 16 points at the charity stripe (8-of-15) and dished out six assists.  She also came up big on the defensive end, registering a career-best eight steals and had one block.  Vanessa Hamlett registered her first career double-double scoring 10 points and grabbing a career-high 13 rebounds.  Seven of those boards came on the offensive end.

Luther had four starters score in double figures led by Lizzie Kauls and Kristen Elliott with 14 points each.  The Norse shot 50 percent from the field but were outscored by 17 at the free-throw line.

Buena Vista is now 1-2 overall (1-2 A-R-C) while the Norse dip to 0-2 (0-1 A-R-C).  BVU will have a quick turnaround as the team goes right back onto the court on Monday afternoon (Feb. 8) for a 4:30 p.m. tip-off at Loras.