Kristina Gould hit the game-winning basket with 0:01 seconds remaining in the game to give Nebraska Wesleyan a 55-53 victory over Luther College in the NWU Tip-Off Classic at Snyder Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Friday night (Nov. 21). 

The 2-point victory also marks the first victory for the Prairie Wolves under first-year head coach Eric Jensen.

With the game tied at 53-53, the Prairie Wolves held for the last shot of the game. Ashley Bordovsky penetrated the lane and the entire defense collapsed and she tried to pass the ball back outside. The loose ball rolled into the hands of the open Gould who knocked down the game-winner in her first career start.

Nebraska Wesleyan came out of the gates firing as they jumped out to a 9-0 lead and did not allow the Norse to score until the 16:54 mark of the first half. Luther pulled within one just over the eight minute mark, but they got no closer in the first half as NWU held a 31-23 lead at halftime.

In the second half, the Norse went on a 12-6 run to start the half and got their first lead of the game at the 13:02 mark. The Norse would remain in the lead until under one minute to play.

Katy Golden hit a lay-up with 59 seconds left, then a Norse turnover gave the ball right back to the Prairie Wolves and Bordovsky buried two free throws to put NWU up 53-50.

Luther hit 1-2 free throws but forced an immediate turnover and Camille Stenhaug hit a lay-up to tie the game at 53-53 to set up Gould's game-winner.

Golden and freshman Shea Rasmussen paced the Prairie Wolves with 10 points apiece. Bordovsky had eight points and five rebounds. Sadie Struebing led NWU with eight rebounds.

Two players reached double figures for Luther led by Stenhaug's 13. Amanda Dahlseng added 10 points.

NWU will now play #16 Simpson College at 4 pm, Saturday (Nov. 22) on the second day of the NWU Tip-Off Classic. Simpson defeated Carthage College, 84-82 in overtime in the first game of the day.