Warriors Back In Win Column After Coasting Past Stars

RIVER FOREST, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - Junior Ryan Broeckel (Chilton, Wis.) scored a game-high 17 points to pace four players in double figures as Wisconsin Lutheran College never trailed in a 93-73 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Dominican on Saturday at the Igini Sports Forum.

The Warriors (4-5, 2-2 NACC) raced out to a 9-2 lead over the Stars (4-5, 0-4 NACC), forcing the hosts into an early timeout after a layup from junior Grayson Goetz (Aurora, Ill.) just 4:04 into the game. DU came within three points at 15-12, before WLC rattled off an 11-0 scoring run to double up Dominican 34-17 at the 7:34 mark of the first half.

Wisconsin Lutheran's first-half advantage climbed over 20 points for the first time following a layup from junior Jacob Hefle (Germantown, Wis.) with 3:12 remaining in the opening half. The Warriors' halftime lead stood at a first-half best 21 points, 48-27, after a freshman Austin Wagner (Jackson, Wis.) jumper in the final minute of the half.

WLC opened the second half with a 16-4 run to build a game-high 33-point lead after senior Simeon Strauss' (Chicago, Ill.) three-pointer at the 14:25 mark. Wisconsin Lutheran still held a 30-point advantage with 7:35 to play following a pair of free throw makes from Wagner.

The Warriors' lead remained at least 25 points until the two-minute mark when the Stars used a 9-0 run, their biggest of the game, to bring their deficit down to 17 points. Freshman Ja'Quell Chisom (Milwaukee, Wis.) sent the margin back to 20 points with a three in the last 30 seconds.

Broeckel led WLC with a game-high 17 points in addition to eight rebounds and five assists. Hefle stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Junior Jacob Stoltz (Kewaskum, Wis.) added 11 points and six boards, while Goetz rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10 points.  

Wisconsin Lutheran shot 49.3 percent (36-for-73) from the floor, including tying a season-high 40 percent (10-for-25) from beyond the arc. The Warriors out-rebounded DU 46-30 and held a 20-10 margin in second chance points.

Joshua West scored 15 points to pace DU, which shot 46.8 percent (29-for-62) from the floor in the contest.

WLC has a week off before hosting Aurora (7-3, 3-1 NACC) on Saturday, December 17 at 2 p.m. Live coverage links will be available for the matchup at WLCSports.com.