WLC Clinches 12th NACC Title With Win Over Edgewood

MADISON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College avenged its lone Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference loss of the season with a 57-54 conference championship-clinching victory over Edgewood on Wednesday at the Todd Wehr Edgedome.

The Warriors (19-4, 14-1 NACC), who clinched their 12th NACC championship after winning their 14th straight game, withstood 17 lead changes and nine ties to come away with the win over the Eagles (13-11, 12-3 NACC).

WLC held its only lead of the first quarter four minutes in when a jumper from senior Sam Leisemann (Fall River, Wis.) made it a 6-5 score. EC answered with six straight points and had a pair of five-point leads over Wisconsin Lutheran. Baskets from junior Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) and sophomore Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.) helped the Warriors close the quarter strong as they trailed 14-13 after the opening period.

Wisconsin Lutheran opened the second quarter with buckets from freshman Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) and Leisemann for a 17-14 lead just over a minute in. Edgewood jumped back in front 21-19 following a three-point play, but a 7-0 run capped by a three-pointer from senior Meggie Scott (Yorkville, Ill.) vaulted the Warriors in front 26-21. The Eagles closed the half on a 10-0 run over the final 1:46 for a 31-26 halftime advantage.

WLC trailed by five points three minutes into the third quarter, but leaped ahead 37-36 on a layup from Leisemann with 2:22 remaining. There were five lead changes the rest of the quarter, as EC hung on for a 42-41 lead after three. Leisemann accounted for eight of Wisconsin Lutheran's 15 third-quarter points.

A back-and-forth fourth quarter featured five lead changes and four ties as neither team held more than a three-point lead. The Warriors led 47-44 two minutes in before five straight from Edgewood put them in front 49-47 a minute later. Trailing 54-52 with under two minutes to play, Scott evened the score with a second-chance jumper at the 1:21 mark. Following a forced turnover, Leisemann gave WLC a 56-54 lead with a jumper inside the paint with under 30 seconds remaining. The Eagles missed a jumper on their next possession and were forced to quickly foul three times. Scott knocked down the second of two free throw attempts in the final seconds, and EC's last second heave from long distance came up short.

Leisemann racked up her 12th double double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 63.4 percent from the floor. Junior Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.) tallied 10 points, Stevens added nine points and a game-high 13 rebounds. The Warriors shot 41.7 percent (25-for-60) from the field and held a 30-16 advantage on points in the paint.

Jayden Nortier paced two Edgewood players in double figures with 17 points. The Eagles shot 37.3 percent (19-for-51) from the floor. 

WLC, which secured the top seed in next week's NACC Tournament, hosts Marian (7-17, 5-10 NACC) on Saturday in its final regular season game at the Time of Grace Center. The Senior Day, Alumni Day, and Winterfest contest tips-off at 1 p.m. Live coverage links will be available at WLCSports.com.