by MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College coasted to a 72-44 wire-to-wire Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference regular season finale win on Senior Day over Marian Saturday at the Time of Grace Center.
The Warriors (20-4, 15-1 NACC), who clinched their 12th 20-win season in program history, extended their winning streak to 15 games with the win over the Sabres (7-18, 5-11 NACC).
WLC got off to a hot start, scoring the first 16 points of the contest, the final four of which were from sophomore Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.). A layup by junior Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.), who netted five points and was one of six players to score in the first quarter, gave Wisconsin Lutheran a 21-4 lead at the end of the opening period.
Both teams exchanged baskets early in the second quarter, but the Warriors were able to extend their lead to 20 points with 4:57 remaining. A pair of threes from junior Ainsley Howard (Jefferson, Wis.) sparked an 8-0 run in the final three minutes to give WLC a 39-11 lead at halftime. Freshman Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) had eight points in the second quarter, and Wisconsin Lutheran held MU to just two made field goals for the second straight stanza.
The Warriors opened the second half with four straight points before Marian answered with an 8-0 run of its own, cutting WLC’s lead to 24 with 6:52 remaining in the quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran finished the final minutes on a 9-1 scoring run behind two three-point baskets from junior Haley Ott (Germantown, Wis.) and the Warriors held a 61-27 advantage after three quarters of action.
WLC extended its lead to a game-high 36 points in the early minutes of the fourth after a layup from Howard. The Sabres responded with a 7-0 run and later cut the lead down to 28 but were unable to get any closer as Wisconsin Lutheran closed out the regular season with a 72-44 victory.
Stevens led the Warriors in scoring with 15 points. Howard poured in a career-high 13 points, while senior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) added 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) grabbed a career-high nine rebounds and Troxel dished out a career-high six assists. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 43.1 percent (28-for-65) and outscored MU 34-10 in the paint.
