Women's Basketball Clipped By Top-Ranked Transylvania In Final Minute

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College's go-ahead three-pointer in the waning seconds rimmed out and top-ranked defending national champion Transylvania held on for a 54-48 win in the championship game of the Pat Deacon Classic on Sunday at the Clive M. Beck Center.

The Warriors (3-2) trailed 50-48 with 0:12 seconds left when junior Kara Troxel's (Bonduel, Wis.) go-ahead three-pointer from the left wing rimmed out and the Pioneers (3-0) made four free throws in the final five seconds to hold on for the six-point win.

A back-and-forth opening quarter featured four ties and three lead changes. Trailing 10-9 at the 4:17 mark, WLC netted the final six points of the period to take a 15-10 advantage into the second quarter. Freshman Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) scored six of her eight points in the opening frame.

Senior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) opened the second quarter scoring with a jumper and three-pointers from juniors Lexy Smit (Brandon, Wis.) and Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) vaulted Wisconsin Lutheran's lead to a game-high nine points at 23-14 with 6:09 remaining. TU turned in a 12-2 scoring run over the final 5:42 to hold a slim 26-25 edge over the Warriors at halftime.

Transylvania started the second half on a 10-0 scoring run to build a game-high 11-point lead with 4:47 left in the third quarter. Leisemann put an end to the 22-2 run with a pair of free throws and a 10-0 WLC surge ensued, as it trailed by one with eight seconds remaining. A last-second three-pointer pushed the Pioneers' lead back to four at 39-35 through three quarters.

Wisconsin Lutheran trailed 44-41 three minutes into the final frame following a layup from sophomore Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.), but four straight sent TU's lead back to seven. The Warriors netted the next five points to close within two, but couldn't capitalize off a turnover to possibly tie the game with 2:27 on the clock. Two free throws from Leisemann with 0:57 seconds left had WLC again within two at 50-48. A shot clock violation gave the ball back to Wisconsin Lutheran and Troxel's three-pointer from the left wing with 0:12 seconds left rimmed off.

Leisemann led the Warriors with 15 points, eight rebounds, three steals, and one block. Stevens fought through foul trouble to finish with eight points and seven rebounds. Senior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) dished out a career-high 11 assists for WLC, which shot 34.6 percent (18-for-52) from the floor.

Dasia Thornton scored a game-high 25 points to pace three players in double figures for Transylvania, which won its 34th consecutive home game. The Pioneers shot 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the field for the game. 

Wisconsin Lutheran opens Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play at home next Saturday at 1 p.m. against Edgewood (1-4, 0-0 NACC). Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.