Box Score
Box score
MILWAUKEE - The Wisconsin Lutheran College
women's basketball team erased a seven-point deficit early in the
second half to defeat fourth-seeded Benedictine University 78-70 in
a NAC Semifinal game Thursday night at the Recreation Complex.
The Warriors (24-3, 16-2 NAC) move on to host third-seeded
Concordia University Wisconsin (19-8, 15-3 NAC) on Saturday at 2
p.m. for the NAC Tournament Championship. The winner receives the
conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
This marks the third tournament championship appearance for WLC in
the last four seasons. CUW advanced by knocking off second-seeded
Dominican University, 81-64.
Benedictine and Wisconsin Lutheran battled closely throughout
much of the first half by exchanging leads four times and tying the
contest twice. BU led by as many as five points at the 14:56 mark,
but WLC mounted a lead of eight points, 37-29, with 3:10 left
before halftime. The Warriors held a slim 39-36 lead at
intermission.
Wisconsin Lutheran shot 50 percent (16-for-32) in the first half
and was led by Erika Laete's (Spokane, Wash./Evergreen Lutheran)
and Rachel Hoft's (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) 13 and 11 points,
respectively. Tracey Walsh paced Benedictine with 10 points in the
period. BU held a 17-5 advantage in points off turnovers,
committing just five to the Warriors' 11 turnovers in the
period.
The Eagles opened the second half on a 12-2 run to take their
largest lead of the game of seven points with 15:50 remaining. WLC
battled back and after six second-half lead changes, took a 58-57
lead on a pair of Krissy Day (West Allis, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran)
free throws with 8:04 on the clock. The Warriors extended their
leading margin to a game-high 10 points, 71-61, with 3:28
remaining. BU got within four points late, but WLC was able to hold
on for its 13th-straight victory.
The Warriors shot 45.5 percent (10-for-22) in the second half,
while the Eagles fired on 41.2 percent (14-for-34) of their shots.
Rachel Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Laete led
the way in the second half with 10 points each. WLC turned the ball
over just four times in the period after committing 11 first-half
turnovers.
Laete recorded her third straight double-double with a game-high
23 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the
season. Johnson finished with 14 points, while Hoft and Brittanny
Bahr (Caledonia, Wis./Shoreland Lutheran) added 11 and 10,
respectively, off the bench. The Warriors, who out-rebounded the
Eagles 40-32, shot 48.1 percent (26-for-54) for the game. WLC
connected on eight three-pointers and 18 of 25 attempts from the
charity stripe.
Walsh led four from Benedictine (16-10, 11-6 NAC) in double
figures with 14 points. Jillian Lipman scored 12 points and Jenn
Bren and Lidia Arias each chipped in with 10. BU shot 42.4 percent
(28-for-66) from the floor for the game and owned a 25-11 advantage
in points off turnovers.
