WLC Rolls Past Rams Behind Balanced Effort

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – Senior Alex VanCrete (Green Lake, Wis.) scored a game-high 19 points to pace five players in double figures, as the Wisconsin Lutheran College men's basketball team started its season 2-0 after a 104-83 win over North Central (Minn.) on Saturday afternoon inside the Recreation Complex. The win was the Warriors' 10th straight on Catalyst Court. 

• Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 104, North Central (Minn.) 83
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (2-0), North Central (Minn.) (0-2)
• Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.

• The Warriors scored the first five points of the game and forced a Rams timeout following a VanCrete three that made the score 13-5.
• NCU closed to within four points at 18-14, but consecutive triples from sophomore Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) and senior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) extended the lead back to 10 points with 12:40 left in the first half.
• WLC's lead hovered between 11 and 14 points for the majority of the time remaining in the first half. 
• Wisconsin Lutheran closed out the opening period on an 8-0 run to take an 18-point lead into the locker room at 61-43. Sophomore Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.), junior Simeon Strauss (Chicago, Ill.), and senior Drew Bernhagen (Markesan, Wis.) accounted for the scoring run.
• The Green and White held at least a 15-point lead throughout the entire second half, and extended the advantage to a game-high 31 points with 7:04 left following a Stoltz three-pointer.
• The Warriors surpassed the century mark in the final minute when sophomore Brian Rittierodt (Auburn, Wash.) knocked down the team's 16th three-pointer of the game.
• VanCrete paced five players in double figures with 19 points, Goetz finished with 18 points and six assists, while Bernhagen had 16.
• Sophomore Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) posted a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Stoltz rounded out the double-figure scorers with 12 points.
• WLC shot 49.4 percent (38-for-77) from the floor for the game and dished out 24 assists.
• Wisconsin Lutheran out-scored North Central 32-12 in points off turnovers.

• "Playing two games in less than 24 hours is difficult, and I am proud of how hard our guys played tonight. We shared the ball well with 24 assists and just nine turnovers. It is great to open up 2-0, and I am excited to see our growth as a team after this weekend." - Head Coach Aaron Aanonsen

• The Warriors are next in action on Monday, November 15 when they play their first road game of the season at Beloit (1-1). Tip-off time is scheduled for 7 p.m. Live coverage links will be available for the game at WLCSports.com. 

MBB: @WLC_MBB 104, North Central (Minn.) 83

⚔️ @AlVanCrete leads five players in double-figures with game-high 19 points
⚔️ @ryanbroeckel45 posts double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds
⚔️ Warriors make 16 three-pointers#WeAreWarriors #d3hoops pic.twitter.com/NraSPU2R6I

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) November 7, 2021

MBB: @WLC_MBB caps off its season-opening weekend against North Central (Minn.) this afternoon.

��: North Central (Minn.)
��: Nov. 6, 2021
��: Time of Grace Center
⏰: 4:30 p.m.
��: https://t.co/uiutVQIiuV
��: https://t.co/vDQyVRoJ9p
��: https://t.co/3uM6dRxYtO#d3hoops pic.twitter.com/OXiuoxm87K

— WLC Warriors (@WLCSports) November 6, 2021

�� GAMEDAY ��
�� | North Central University (Mi)
�� | (Home) WLC
⌚️ | 4:30 PM CDT#WeAreWarriors ��⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jJrkYd08ZY

— WLC Men's Basketball (@WLC_MBB) November 6, 2021