MILWAUKEE (WLCSports.com) - Wisconsin Lutheran College couldn't keep pace with hot-shooting St. Norbert on Wednesday, falling 75-61 in a Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference contest at Time of Grace Center.
The Warriors (5-7, 2-1 NACC), who returned to action for the first time in nine days, cut a 17-point deficit down to four points after three quarters but unfortunately could get no closer.
The Green Knights jumped out to a 13-2 lead over WLC past the midway mark of the first quarter. A three-pointer from sophomore
Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) capped a quick 5-0 scoring spurt to bring Wisconsin Lutheran within six, but SNC made five of six three-point shots to take a 21-10 lead after the opening quarter.
Senior
Kara Troxel's (Bonduel, Wis.) layup three minutes into the second quarter had the Warriors within eight points at 23-15. A 10-1 run by St. Norbert sent its lead to a first-half high 17 points halfway through the period. The Green Knights made all six of their second quarter free throw attempts to carry a 37-24 lead into halftime.
SNC held a pair of 13-point leads throughout the third quarter, but WLC shot 50 percent and made four three-pointers to remain within striking distance. A 10-4 run, highlighted by a pair of Stevens three-pointers, trimmed Wisconsin Lutheran's deficit down to just four points at 51-47 after three quarters.
A three-point play from Stevens had the Warriors within four points two-and-a-half minutes into the fourth quarter. St. Norbert, which shot 77 percent in the final quarter, followed with a 14-2 scoring run to build a 68-52 lead with 4:32 remaining. WLC came as close 13 points after a three-pointer from senior
Lexy Smit (Brandon, Wis.) with 2:52 left in the game.
Stevens scored a game-high 18 points for Wisconsin Lutheran, while senior
Haley Ott (Germantown, Wis.) added a season-high 11 points. Junior
Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.) recorded a team-high seven rebounds and two steals. Smit led the team with three assists. The Warriors shot 31.6 percent (18-for-57) from the floor for the game.
Casey Jepson scored 13 points to pace five players in double figures for the Green Knights (8-3, 3-0 NACC), who shot 58.5 percent (24-for-41) for the game, including 64.3 percent (9-for-14) from beyond the arc.
WLC remains home on Saturday when it hosts Illinois Tech (5-7, 1-2 NACC) at 3:15 p.m. in the backend of a NACC doubleheader at Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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