MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College locked down defensively to claim a 48-29 victory over second-seeded St. Norbert in the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Final on Sunday at Time of Grace Center.
The Warriors (23-5) secured their third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and the 14th in program history, holding the Green Knights to their lowest point total in 49 years and without a made three-pointer (0-for-15) – the first time this season WLC didn't allow a made three. It also marked the lowest field goal percentage (19.6) allowed by Wisconsin Lutheran in over two years.
SNC struck first with a pair of free throws, but the Warriors quickly responded. Junior
Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) tied the game with a turnaround jumper and later knocked down a step-back three to spark a decisive 10-0 run midway through the opening quarter. WLC capped the period with a freshman
Kenly Frey (Brookfield, Wis.) jumper in the closing seconds to lead 17-6 after one, limiting St. Norbert to 2-for-17 shooting. Frey finished the opening frame with 10 points.
Wisconsin Lutheran extended its cushion in the second quarter. Stevens opened the scoring with a three-pointer, and a pair of free throws by freshman
Alexis Beger (Plymouth, Wis.) pushed the margin to 26-8, the Warriors' largest of the half. The Green Knights briefly trimmed the deficit with a 4-0 spurt, but WLC answered to take a 30-15 lead into the break. SNC was held to 25.0 percent (3-for-12) shooting in the quarter.
The third quarter featured defensive intensity from both sides. St. Norbert managed just four points in the frame, while Wisconsin Lutheran scored five. Senior
Jayden Hill's (Kenosha, Wis.) layup and free throw helped maintain separation, and sophomore
Abby Cole (Fond du Lac, Wis.) added two free throws. The Warriors led 35-19 entering the fourth after holding the Green Knights to 2-for-13 shooting in the period.
WLC closed it out in the final 10 minutes, Five points each early on from Frey and freshman
Madeline Leffel (Germantown, Wis.) were key to Wisconsin Lutheran building a 20-plus-point advantage, leading by as many as 24 midway through the quarter.
Frey led all scorers with 17 points to pace the Warriors, while Stevens added eight points and Leffel contributed seven. Stevens secured a game-high eight rebounds, Cole dished out a game-best three assists, and Frey recorded two steals to lead WLC defensively. Wisconsin Lutheran finished the game shooting 32.7 percent (16-for-49).
For SNC (18-8), Taylor Thiry scored 14 points and Oakley Witteck added seven. Witteck and Avery Bierowski pulled down a team-high six rebounds. St. Norbert finished 10-for-51 from the floor.
The Warriors will learn their NCAA Tournament destination when the 64-team field is unveiled on Monday at 1:30 p.m. on NCAA.com.
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