Five-Game Winning Streak Stopped By First-Place Eagles

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – The Wisconsin Lutheran College women's basketball team hung around late, but visiting Benedictine held off the Warriors' comeback attempt as the Eagles earned a 68-64 win over WLC Saturday afternoon in the Recreation Complex.

• Final Score: Benedictine 68, Wisconsin Lutheran 64
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (8-4, 6-2 NACC), Benedictine (10-2, 7-0 NACC)
• Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.

• Midway through the opening quarter, the visiting Eagles held a 10-6 lead. A layup from junior Amanda Brug (Sturtevant, Wis.) and a three from the top of the key by senior Tierney Woodward (Poynette, Wis.) tied the game at 11-11 apiece. With just seconds remaining in the first quarter, Benedictine dropped in a driving layup to give the visitors a 13-11 lead after the opening frame.
• A couple trips to the free throw line and a pair of layups from sophomore Jenna Mace (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) tied the game at 19-19 with over six minutes to play in the first half. Mace gave the Warriors a one-point lead 0:30 seconds later with a three from the wing.
• The Eagles regained the lead on the following possession, but freshman Amanda Klasinski (Stevens Point, Wis.) connected on a three to make the score 25-24 in favor of the Warriors. BenU closed the half with an 11-4 run to take a six-point lead, 35-29, into halftime.
• With the Eagles leading by a game-high 10 points early in the third quarter, a three from sophomore Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.) and a layup by Brug brought the deficit back within four. Minutes later, another three from Gough closed the Benedictine advantage to just one at 42-41.
• As the third quarter came to a close, the Eagles tried to pull away, but the Warriors used a three from Woodward and a jumper from Brug to keep the game within three at 49-46.
• Woodward opened the fourth quarter with a three from the corner to tie the game at 49-49 apiece. A driving layup from Mace gave the Warriors a two-point lead but the Eagles answered with a three of their own to regain the lead at 52-51.
• Sophomore Morgan Tramburg (Fall River, Wis.) and Brug tied the game at 58-58 with three minutes remaining in the game on a pair of mid-range jumpers. Benedictine stretched the lead back up to five before Gough connected on a three from the top of the key to bring the score to 63-61 with just over 0:30 seconds remaining.
• A pair of free throw makes by Mace with 0:04 seconds remaining brought WLC within three again, but the Eagles were able to hang on for the 68-64 win.

• Mace finished with a game-high 20 points, while Brug added 14 and Woodward recorded 11 to round out the Warriors in double figures.
• Brug led WLC with 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season, as the hosts out-rebounded BenU 37-35. A trio of Warriors had three assists to lead the team.
• Woodward recorded a game-high three steals, while sophomore Kalies Birkholz (Watertown, Wis.) added two steals.
• Wisconsin Lutheran shot 35.5 percent (22-of-62) from the floor and 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from deep. The Green and White were efficient from the line, connecting on 85.7 percent (12-of-14).

• Claire Gibler and Allison Michalski led the Eagles with 16 points apiece as Benedictine shot 39.3 percent (22-of-56) from the floor and 36.4 percent (8-of-22) from beyond the arc. The Eagles added 16 makes from the charity stripe, shooting 80 percent (16-of-20).
• Alex Fanning finished with a game-high 17 rebounds for BenU and added 14 points to record the double-double.

• The Warriors travel to MSOE (4-9, 4-4 NACC) Tuesday night for their first matchup of the season against the Raiders. MSOE has lost six straight after starting the conference season 4-0. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Live stats and video links will be available at WLCSports.com.