WAVERLY, Iowa (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College jumped out to a 20-point first-quarter lead and managed to hold off UW-Platteville's charge for a 59-54 non-conference win on Monday in the Wartburg Holiday Tournament at Levick Arena.
The Warriors (5-6), who squared off with the Pioneers for the first time in their 41-year history, snapped a rare three-game losing skid by closing out the calendar year with its sixth all-time victory over a WIAC opponent.
WLC netted the first 15 points of the game to jump out to a commanding lead midway through the first quarter. Senior
Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) made the fifth three-pointer of the opening stanza for Wisconsin Lutheran, which built a game-high 20-point lead at 23-3. The Warriors forced eight turnovers and held UWP to just 1-for-9 shooting en route to a 23-4 advantage after one period.
WLC was held without a field goal for the first seven minutes of the second quarter, as UW-Platteville trimmed its deficit down to just six points at 27-21. A layup from freshman
Abby Cole (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and three-pointer from senior
Lexy Smit (Brandon, Wis.) pushed Wisconsin Lutheran's lead back to double-digits at halftime, 32-21.
A three-pointer from Hogenson less than two minutes into the third quarter put the Warriors in front by 14 points at 37-23. Unfortunately, it was one of just three WLC made field goals in the quarter, as the Pioneers used a 15-3 scoring run to come within just two points at 40-38 when the quarter came to a close.
UWP's deficit remained at two points twice within the opening three-and-a-half minutes of the fourth quarter. A 7-1 scoring spurt, keyed by five points from sophomore
Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.), pushed WLC's advantage back to eight points at 51-43 with 4:07 remaining. UW-Plattevile was within a possession with just 0:12 seconds left, but Smit sank a pair of free throws to ice the win for Wisconsin Lutheran.
Stevens, who scored 11 points in the fourth quarter, finished with a game-high 21 points. Smit and senior
Janiyah Goner (Milwaukee, Wis.) added nine points apiece. Goner also distributed a team-high four assists and tied for a team-high with six rebounds. The Warriors shot 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the floor, including 29.2 percent (7-for-24) from three-point range.
Ella Mackiewicz tallied 13 points and eight rebounds for the Pioneers (6-4), who shot 38.9 percent (21-for-54) for the game.
WLC is idle until Wednesday, January 8 when its resumes NACC play against St. Norbert (7-2, 2-0 NACC) at Time of Grace Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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