Women's Basketball's Hot Shooting Sinks Muskies

PLYMOUTH, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Junior Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) scored a career-high 21 points and Wisconsin Lutheran College shot a season-high 52.9 percent from the floor en route to an 86-37 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference win over Lakeland on Wednesday at Woltzen Gymnasium.

The Warriors (9-4, 4-1 NACC), who won their fourth straight game, held the Muskies (4-10, 2-3 NACC) to single digit point totals in the first three quarters on the way to their 10th consecutive win in the all-time series. 

WLC broke an early 3-3 tie in the first 0:30 seconds of the game with a 14-0 scoring run. LU came within 11 points with under five minutes left in the first quarter, but Wisconsin Lutheran used another 11-0 surge to sprint out to a commanding 31-8 lead after one period. Hogenson netted 11 points in the first 10 minutes for the Warriors, who shot a blistering 61.9 percent from the floor.

The two teams traded points for the first three minutes of the second quarter, but an 11-2 run by WLC pushed the advantage to 31 points at 45-14 with 3:22 remaining after a layup from freshman Marin Riesen (Watertown, Wis.). Junior Lexy Smit's (Brandon, Wis.) three-pointer at the 1:09 mark sent Wisconsin Lutheran into halftime holding a comfortable 50-17 lead.

The Warriors netted the first eight points of the third quarter, including back-to-back triples from Hogenson to increase their lead to 58-17. Junior Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) capped a 7-0 WLC run with a three-pointer as the margin grew to 50 points at 71-21 with 4:26 remaining in the third. Wisconsin Lutheran, which made 10 of its 16 shot attempts in the third stanza, led 74-26 entering the fourth quarter.

After the two teams exchanged baskets three-and-a-half minutes into the final frame, the Warriors opened up a game-high 53-point lead at 83-30 following a layup from freshman Courtney Park (Rockford, Ill.). Sophomore Madison Lineback's (Marseilles, Ill.) jumper at the 1:42 mark maintained the game-high lead before Lakeland scored its final four points from the charity stripe.

Hogenson led all scorers with a career-high 21 points on 5-for-8 from three-point range. Senior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) scored 13 points and freshman Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) added 10. Sophomore Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.) stuffed the stat sheet with seven assists, six points, six rebounds, and five steals. Senior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) also chipped in with six assists, five points, and five steals. WLC, which shot a season-high 52.9 percent (36-for-68) from the floor and made 12 three-pointers, set season-highs for points, field goals made, rebounds (43), assists (24), and steals (16).

Bree Arsenault scored eight points to lead the Muskies, who were held to 24.4 percent (11-for-45) shooting on the night. 

The Warriors travel to Rockford (6-8, 2-3 NACC) on Saturday for a 1 p.m. NACC contest. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.