Winning Streak Reaches Nine As Wisconsin Lutheran Routs IIT

MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College shot a season-high 55.9 percent and scored a season-high 94 points in a 94-38 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Illinois Tech on Saturday at the Time of Grace Center.

The Warriors (17-6, 14-2 NACC), who ran their winning streak to nine games after holding an opponent under 40 points for the eighth time this season, jumped out to a big lead over the Scarlet Hawks (6-17, 3-13 NACC) and never looked back. 

WLC, which shot a game-high 57.1 percent in the first quarter, led 10-1 at the 6:35 mark. Ahead 11-7, Wisconsin Lutheran scored the last 11 points of the opening quarter to take a 22-7 lead. Eight different players cracked the scoring column in the first 10 minutes of play.

The Warriors scored 25 unanswered points to start the second quarter, building a 47-7 lead with 2:20 left before halftime. Junior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) led the way with 10 points in the period, as WLC allowed just two made baskets from IIT. Wisconsin Lutheran went into halftime in front 50-12.

WLC doubled-up Illinois Tech 22-11 in the third quarter, using a 12-0 scoring run to lead 66-17 with 3:21 remaining. The advantage grew to 54 points before Wisconsin Lutheran carried a 72-23 lead into the fourth quarter.

In the final frame, the Warriors totaled 22 points for the third time and shot at least 55 percent for the fourth straight period. Sophomore Alyssa London (Freeport, Ill.) netted all nine of her points in the fourth quarter, as she was one of seven players to make a basket in the last 10 minutes. WLC's lead reached a game-high when freshman Jayden Hill's (Kenosha, Wis.) fastbreak layup made the score 90-29.

Leisemann led all scorers with 17 points in addition to eight rebounds. Sophomore Ella Ten Pas (Oostburg, Wis.) added 13 points and a game-high nine rebounds. Sophomores Madi Manson (Arvada, Colo.) and Haley Ott (Germantown, Wis.) chipped in with 11 points each.

Junior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) dished out a career-high 10 assists, while Hill stuffed the box score with eight points, eight assists, and seven steals. In addition to the high water mark for points and field goal percentage, Wisconsin Lutheran also eclipsed season highs for field goals made (38), assists (26), and steals (21). 

Julia Bucci scored 10 points to lead the Scarlet Hawks, who shot 27.3 percent (15-for-55) for the game.

The Warriors host NACC-leading St. Norbert (20-3, 16-0 NACC) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for Senior Night. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.