DE PERE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College shot a season-high 53.8 percent and overcame a 13-point deficit in the second half, but its season-high 24 turnovers proved costly in a 61-58 loss to St. Norbert on Wednesday at the Mulva Family Fitness and Sports Center.
The Warriors (8-6, 5-2 NACC) jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the Green Knights (11-3, 7-0 NACC) behind a three from sophomore
Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) and a layup from junior
Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.). WLC, which led for all but 0:23 seconds in the opening quarter, built a six-point lead at 15-9 after freshman
Jayden Hill's (Kenosha, Wis.) three-pointer at the 2:06 mark. SNC scored six of the final eight points of the quarter to trail 19-18 after one.
Wisconsin Lutheran was held scoreless for nearly the first seven minutes of the second quarter, as St. Norbert jumped in front 27-19. The Warriors came within four at 29-25 following back-to-back triples from senior
Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.) with two-and-a-half minutes left until halftime. The Green Knights netted the final four points of the quarter for a 33-25 lead at intermission.
WLC found itself trailing by a game-high 13 points with 7:18 remaining in the third quarter, but began to slowly chip away at its deficit. A 15-4 run over the remainder of the quarter brought them within just two points at 45-43 when the third quarter came to a close.
Wisconsin Lutheran scored the first five points of the final quarter, including three from sophomore
Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) to leap in front 48-45. The Warriors held a 49-47 lead before SNC went on a 5-0 spurt to take a three-point advantage of its own with 5:53 left. A three-point play from Leisemann knotted the contest at 56-56 at the 3:18 mark, and a layup from Troxel tied the game again at 58-58 with 1:47 on the clock. St. Norbert scored the go-ahead layup on its next possession, and after two turnovers and a missed jumper, WLC trailed 61-58 with 0.4 seconds left. A sideline inbounds pass found an open Leisemann from the top of the key, but her game-tying three-point attempt was off the mark as time expired.
Gough led Wisconsin Lutheran with a season-high 14 points on four three-pointers. Leisemann finished with 12 points and nine rebounds, while Ten Pas collected a game-high 15 rebounds. The Warriors shot a season-best 53.8 percent (21-for-39) from the floor, including 46.7 percent (7-for-15) from beyond the arc. WLC's 24 turnovers were a season-high.
Chloe Gruszynski scored a game-high 16 points to lead three in double figures for the Green Knights, who were held to 37.3 percent (22-for-59) shooting.Â
Wisconsin Lutheran returns home on Saturday to host Dominican (1-13, 0-7 NACC) for a 4:15 p.m. tip-off. Live coverage links will be available for the NACC game at WLCSports.com.
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