AURORA, Ill. (WLCSports.com) - Sophomore
Ella Ten Pas (Oostburg, Wis.) scored 15 points and junior
Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) added 14 as Wisconsin Lutheran College overcame a three-point deficit in the final minute for a 63-60 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Aurora on Saturday at Thornton Gymnasium.
The Warriors (15-6, 12-2 NACC), who won their seventh straight game, leaped into second place over the Spartans (17-4, 11-3 NACC) in the conference standings after their three-point road win.
With the score knotted at 4-4 just over two minutes into the first quarter, WLC rattled off nine consecutive points for a 13-4 lead, tying its largest of the game, after a three from senior
Ally Gough (Horicon, Wis.). Wisconsin Lutheran carried an 18-10 lead into the second quarter following a 57.1 shooting performance in the period, its best of the game.Â
The Warriors alternated scores with AU for the first four minutes of the second quarter, before a 5-0 spurt brought Aurora within three at 25-22 at the 5:23 mark. WLC maintained the three-point lead at halftime, 29-26. Sophomore
Madi Manson (Arvada, Colo.) netted all seven of her points in the quarter, as Wisconsin Lutheran led despite shooting 28.6 percent.
Once again, the two teams traded baskets for the first five minutes of the third quarter, but a 7-0 Spartans run gave them a 40-37 lead, their first of the game. AU led by as many as five at 44-39, but a layup from junior
Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) trimmed the margin to two at 46-44 after three quarters.
The Warriors scored the first three points of a back-and-forth fourth quarter, which featured seven lead changes and three ties. WLC trailed 58-55 with 0:59 seconds left, but two free throws from Scott and a steal and layup from sophomore
Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) propelled Wisconsin Lutheran in front. Troxel knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to complete the 6-0 spurt as the lead was 61-58 with 0:22 seconds left.
A quick layup from Aurora brought them within a point, but Scott knocked down two free throws with 0:13 seconds left. The Spartans' game-tying three-pointer was blocked in the final seconds as the Warriors held on for the win.
Ten Pas finished with a game-high 15 points along with eight rebounds. Leisemann added 14 points in addition to eight boards. Troxel chipped in with nine and Scott scored eight. WLC shot an even 40 percent (20-for-50) for the game.
Gabby Moore scored 13 points to lead three in double figures for AU, which shot 44.9 percent (22-for-49) for the game.
Wisconsin Lutheran travels across town to Alverno (2-18, 0-14 NACC) on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. NACC matchup. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.
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