Box Score MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) – In a game featuring 11 lead changes and eight ties, the top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College women's basketball team got a season-high 20 points from freshman Kaitlyn Shadoski (Janesville, Wis.) to defeat second-seeded Edgewood 66-58 in the NACC Tournament Divisional Final on Saturday inside the Recreation Complex. The Warriors will travel to top-seeded Benedictine from the South Division next Saturday for the NACC Tournament Final.
- Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 66, Edgewood 58
- Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (11-1), Edgewood (11-5)
- Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis.
- Edgewood converted a three-point play on its opening possession to take an early lead. A three from junior Kalies Birkholz (Watertown, Wis.) and four made free throws from junior Jenna Mace (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.) gave the Warriors a 9-8 lead with seven minutes left in the first quarter.
- The Eagles scored eight straight points midway through the quarter to take a seven-point lead at 17-10 with 2:04 remaining in the opening stanza. Edgewood scored the final six points of the first quarter to take a 23-12 lead heading into the second.
- Midway through the second, WLC netted six consecutive points to cut the Eagles' lead down to 29-26. Freshman Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) opened the run with two makes from the line and Shadoski knocked down a pair of jumpers to bring Wisconsin Lutheran within one possession.
- Edgewood extended the lead back to seven, but layups from junior Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.) and Shadoski kept the Warriors within three at 33-30 heading into halftime.
- WLC scored the first nine points of the second half to take a 39-33 lead three minutes into the third quarter. Leisemann tied the game with a three, and Birkholz and Shadoski each added a bucket to force an Eagles timeout.
- Edgewood regained the lead late in the third quarter on a couple makes from the free throw line. Birkholz converted a pair of attempts from the line to give Wisconsin Lutheran a 48-47 lead heading into the final frame.
- The fourth quarter featured five lead changes in the first seven minutes, and the score was even at 58 with 3:08 remaining in the game. Leisemann broke the tie with a free throw and senior Amanda Brug (Sturtevant, Wis.) put back an offensive board to put the Warriors up three. WLC held the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the game and knocked down five free throws to win 66-58 and advance to the NACC Tournament Final.
- Shadoski led four Warriors in double figures with a season-high 20 points. Leisemann recorded a double-double with season highs of 15 points and 16 rebounds. Mace added 12 points while Birkholz finished with 10.
- WLC shot 38.9 percent (21-of-54) from the floor. The Green and White were successful from the charity stripe, converting 22-of-31 attempts (71.0 percent).
- Wisconsin Lutheran out-rebounded the Eagles 41-37 and finished with a 32-22 advantage in points in the paint.
- The Warriors improved their record to 31-5 all-time in the NACC Tournament.
- Diamond Pikulyk led the Eagles with 14 points to lead three players in double figures. Emma Klein finished with 12 while Paige Banks added 10 off the bench.
- Edgewood shot 33.9 percent (20-of-59) from the floor and 26.1 percent (6-of-23) from three-point range.
- The Warriors travel to Benedictine (6-0) for the NACC Tournament Final next Saturday at 2 p.m. The Eagles advanced to the title game after defeating Aurora 72-64 on Saturday. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.
