Decisive Third Quarter Catapults Wisconsin Lutheran To Road Win

LISLE, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - Junior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) scored a game-high 19 points and Wisconsin Lutheran College held Benedictine to just 17 second-half points in a 54-39 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win on Wednesday at the Dan and Ada Rice Center.

The Warriors (4-3, 2-1 NACC) jumped out to a 9-2 first-quarter lead over the Eagles (2-5, 2-1 NACC) with 7:58 on the clock. WLC led by as many as eight points in the opening period after Leisemann's layup at the 6:50 mark. BenU closed to within three points before Wisconsin Lutheran built its advantage back to five at 17-12 at the end of the quarter. 

A 5-0 spurt from WLC three minutes into the second quarter pushed its lead to 21-14 following a layup from junior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.). The Eagles came within two points twice under the five-minute mark, before Wisconsin Lutheran went into halftime holding a three-point lead at 27-24.

BenU scored the first basket of the third quarter to trail by just a point at 27-26. However, Benedictine would get no closer as a 5-0 run by the Warriors pushed their lead to seven points with 5:42 remaining. WLC netted the last nine points of the third period, while holding the Eagles scoreless over the final 4:19 to carry a 14-point advantage at 45-31 into the fourth quarter.

Wisconsin Lutheran extended its lead to a game-high 18 points at 50-32 four minutes into the fourth quarter. The Warriors matched that lead just under the two-minute mark on a three from senior Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.). WLC limited BenU to single digit points for the second straight quarter for the 15-point road victory.

Leisemann led Wisconsin Lutheran with a game- and season-high 19 points to go along with eight rebounds. Sophomore Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) added 15 points on a trio of three-pointers. Wisconsin Lutheran, which shot over 53 percent in both the first and third quarter, finished at 45.1 percent (23-for-51) for the game. 

Jordan Carlquist scored 13 points to pace Benedictine, which shot 35.7 percent for the game. The Eagles were plagued by 28 turnovers.

The Warriors play their second straight NACC road game on Saturday, traveling to River Forest, Illinois for a matchup against Dominican (0-8, 0-3 NACC). Live coverage links will be available for the contest at WLCSports.com.