Warriors Shutdown Sabres For Eighth NACC Win

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – Behind a defense that forced 32 turnovers, the Wisconsin Lutheran College women's basketball team won 73-28 over the visiting Marian Sabres Saturday afternoon inside the Recreation Complex. The Warriors extended their winning streak to 24 games over the Sabres.

• Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 73, Marian 28
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (10-4, 8-2 NACC), Marian (3-11, 3-7 NACC)
• Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.

• Wisconsin Lutheran scored on its first two possessions to take a 5-0 lead just over a minute into the game. The Sabres answered with a five-point run of their own to tie the game before five straight points from sophomore Jenna Mace (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) including a three from the top of the key, made the score 10-5.
• Marian responded with five unanswered points to tie the game again, and used a jumper from the elbow to take a two-point advantage. Mace tied the game with a jumper and sophomore Maria Murray (Middleton, Wis.) laid in a fast break steal to give the hosts the lead right back. A three from sophomore Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.) with three seconds left gave WLC a 17-14 lead after the opening frame.
• The Warriors scored the first five points of the second quarter to take a 22-14 advantage and closed the half with a layup from junior Amanda Brug (Sturtevant, Wis.) and a pair of free throws from Mace to take a 10-point lead, 29-19, into the break.
• Gough knocked down a three for Wisconsin Lutheran's first points of the second half and Brug used a layup and free throw to extend the lead to 35-21 five minutes into the third quarter.
• Three-point makes from Mace and Gough extended the WLC run to 12-0 and made the score 41-21. Gough's third make from beyond the arc capped off a nine-point quarter as the Warriors out-scored the Sabres 18-3 in the third quarter.
• The Sabres hit a three for the first points of the final quarter, but Wisconsin Lutheran answered with a 14-0 run to extend the lead up to 26. Senior Tierney Woodward (Poynette, Wis.) hit a pair of threes on the wing and sophomore Abby Vavra (Mukwonago, Wis.) put back an offensive rebound to close the run.
• WLC finished the game on a 12-2 run to put the finishing touches on a 73-28 home victory.

• Mace poured in a game-high 20 points while Gough rounded out the Warriors in double figures with 13. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 41.5 percent (27-of-65) from the field and 35.7 percent (10-of-28) from beyond the arc.
• Brug had a game-high six rebounds as WLC out-rebounded the Sabres 41-31. Mace and Murray led the team with three assists apiece.
• The Warriors defense forced 32 turnovers and had a season-high 22 steals. Mace led the team with six steals while Brug had three. WLC turned those turnovers into 35 points, compared to zero for the Sabres.
• Wisconsin Lutheran found success in the paint, out-scoring the visitors 32-8.

• Claire Levendoski finished with a team-high nine points as the Sabres were held to 22.7 percent (10-of-44) from the floor and 28.6 percent (4-of-14) from three.
• Three Marian starters recorded five rebounds to lead the team and Carley Wilson and Whittney Jackson each had a pair of assists.

• The Warriors return to action Wednesday night when they travel to Lakeland (6-9, 6-4 NACC). Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Live stats and video will be available at WLCSports.com.