KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WLCSports.com) – Freshman
Kenly Frey (Brookfield, Wis.) scored a game- and season-high 26 points and sophomore
Abby Cole (Fond du lac, Wis.) posted her fourth double-double of the season to send Wisconsin Lutheran College past No. 13 Illinois Wesleyan 71-61 on Monday at Kissimmee Civic Center.
Following a slow start from both teams, the Titans (7-4) took a 5-0 lead three-and-a-half minutes into the first quarter. IWU forced a Warriors timeout at the 2:23 mark after building a 15-8 advantage. WLC closed the opening period on a 12-2 run, capped by consecutive three-pointers from junior
Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) and Frey for a 20-17 lead after one. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 56.3 percent from the floor in the first frame.
Illinois Wesleyan opened the second quarter with a three-pointer to even the contest at 20 apiece. Stevens responded with another three-pointer and Cole followed with a layup to give the Warriors their largest lead of the half, 25-20. The Titans came within two, but Frey knocked down a three to beat the second-quarter buzzer and send WLC into the break in front 32-27. Wisconsin Lutheran maintained consistency from the floor making 50 percent of its shots in the period.
The Warriors (7-4) opened the second half by scoring eight of the first 10 points to open a 12-point lead at 41-29 with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter. A three-point play from freshman
Maddie Ratzow (Oconomowoc, Wis.) put WLC in front by 13 points, tying its largest lead of the quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran held a double-digit lead the rest of the period, as freshman
Alexis Beger (Plymouth, Wis.) tallied five straight points to give the Green and White a 55-42 advantage through three.
IWU netted the first five points of the fourth quarter and trailed by six with 6:25 remaining. The Warriors, who were held to just one made field goal in the final frame, sealed the game from the free throw line and never let their lead slip below five points the rest of the way. Frey scored 11 of the team's 16 fourth-quarter points, including nine from the charity stripe, as WLC went 14-for-18 from the line over the final 10 minutes.
Wisconsin Lutheran finished the game shooting 52.3 percent (23-of-44) from the floor. The Warriors placed three players in double figures, led by Frey's game-and season-high 26 points, while Stevens added 12 points and Cole chipped in 11 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year.
The Titans, who shot 39.2 percent (20-of-51) from the field in the loss, had three players score in double figures, led by Ava Bardic's 22 points, followed by Asia Kobylarczyk's 13 points, and Sara Balli's 11 points. Caitlin Leyden was the leading rebounder for IWU, pulling down six rebounds.
WLC returns to Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference action on Saturday, January 3, when it travels to Concordia Chicago (4-6, 3-1 NACC) for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.
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