Upset Bid Slips From Warriors' Grasp In Final Minute

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College trailed No. 21 Chicago by a point twice within the final 45 seconds of the game, but the Maroons scored the last four points to escape the Time of Grace Center with a 59-54 win over the Warriors on Sunday.

The Warriors (5-4) scored the first seven points of the game, while holding the Maroons (10-0) scoreless for the first 4:46 of the first quarter. WLC led by nine points at 12-3 following a pair of free throws from freshman Paige Werner (Neenah, Wis.) at the 2:46 mark. UC netted the final six points of the opening frame to trail 12-11 after the first quarter.

Chicago, which scored 21 points in the second quarter, took the lead on its first possession of the second period. Wisconsin Lutheran trailed 15-14 with 8:38 remaining in the quarter, but an 8-0 run to close the half gave the Maroons a 32-19 halftime lead.

The Warriors, who scored 24 points and shot over 56 percent in the third quarter, came out of halftime by netting the first seven points after a layup from sophomore Ella Ten Pas (Oostburg, Wis.). The Maroons pushed their lead back to 10 points with 5:15 left in the third quarter, before WLC closed the period on a 13-4 scoring run to trail 44-43 heading to the fourth quarter.

Junior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) put Wisconsin Lutheran in front 46-44 with 7:40 left in the fourth period, the first of four lead changes in the final frame. Less than two minutes later, a junior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) layup gave the Warriors a 48-47 advantage. UC followed with five straight to take a four-point lead with 2:50 remaining. WLC came within a point twice within the final 45 seconds after three-pointers from sophomore Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) and senior Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.). Four Chicago free throws sandwiched in between a Wisconsin Lutheran turnover closed out the five-point win for the Maroons.

Ten Pas and Troxel tied for a game-high with 13 points apiece, with Ten Pas also tying for a game-high nine rebounds. Leisemann added 10 points and seven boards. The Warriors shot 32.7 percent (18-for-55) for the game.

Grace Hynes and Sophia North scored 13 points each for the Maroons, who shot 40.4 percent (21-for-52) from the floor. 

WLC returns to the hardwood on Thursday, December 29 for the Transylvania Holiday Classic in Lexington, Kentucky. Wisconsin Lutheran will square off against the third-ranked host Pioneers (9-0) at 2 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.