DUBUQUE, Iowa (WLCSports.com) – Eighteenth-ranked Wisconsin Lutheran College came up just short in a tightly contested non-conference matchup Tuesday, falling 63-60 to Loras at Lillis Athletic & Wellness Center. The game featured six ties and five lead changes before the Duhawks closed out the final frame to hand the Warriors their first setback of the season.
The Warriors (4-1) used a 9-0 scoring run to erase an early 4-2 deficit for an 11-4 lead following a three-pointer from freshman
Madeline Leffel (Germantown, Wis.) with 2:43 on the clock. WLC carried a 16-11 lead into the second quarter after shooting a game-high 43.8 percent in the opening frame.
In the second quarter, Wisconsin Lutheran used a 9-0 run to turn an 18-13 lead into a game-high 27-13 advantage after a layup from sophomore
Abby Cole (Fond du Lac, Wis.) with 3:27 left before halftime. Loras trimmed its deficit down to seven points at the break, 31-24.
The Duhawks (3-2) answered the Warriors' first bucket of the second half with a 13-0 scoring run for a 37-33 lead midway through. Cole answered by capping an 8-0 run with a layup and WLC held a slim 41-39 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Freshman
Kenly Frey's (Brookfield, Wis.) three-pointer at the 4:18 mark of the fourth quarter put Wisconsin Lutheran in front 51-47. Loras responded with a game-changing 11-0 run to take its largest lead of the game. The Warriors trailed by seven with 0:53 seconds left, but Cole capped a 5-0 spurt with a three-pointer to trim the deficit to just two with 0:26 seconds to play. However, a missed free throw and pair of turnovers over the final 0:20 seconds allowed the Duhawks to come away with a 63-60 victory.
WLC shot 36.1 percent (22-for-61) from the field. Frey paced Wisconsin Lutheran with 19 points, while Cole added 13 points and nine rebounds. Senior
Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.) also pulled down nine rebounds.
Loras finished the night shooting 43.4 percent (23-for-53) and was led by Claire Wagner's 17 points.
The Warriors return home next week to open NACC play, hosting Aurora (4-1, 0-0 NACC) on Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. inside Time of Grace Center. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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