OSHKOSH, Wis. (WLCSports.com) – Wisconsin Lutheran College saw its 2025-2026 season come to an end on Saturday as the Warriors fell 65-56 to the fourth-ranked UW-Oshkosh Titans in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Tournament at Kolf Sports Center.
WLC started quickly in a tightly contested first quarter. Wisconsin Lutheran scored the first four points on baskets by sophomore
Abby Cole (Fond du Lac, Wis.) and junior
Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.), before UWO tallied eight straight points. The Warriors later regained the lead late in the period when freshman
Maddie Ratzow (Oconomowoc, Wis.) converted a layup off a turnover. UW-Oshkosh answered in the final seconds with a layup to tie the game at 14-14 after one.
WLC briefly took control early in the second quarter. Ratzow's second-chance layup and Stevens' jumper gave Wisconsin Lutheran an 18-14 lead with 9:31 remaining in the half. The Titans responded with a surge, eventually putting together an 11-0 run capped by back-to-back three-pointers to build a 36-24 advantage with 1:39 left in the quarter. The Warriors closed the half with a Stevens jumper to trim the deficit to 36-28 at the break.
UWO extended its lead to as many as 13 early in the third quarter, going ahead 45-32 following a three-pointer with 6:45 remaining. WLC battled back with its best stretch of the night, putting together a 10-0 run. Freshman
Madeline Leffel (Germantown, Wis.) scored twice inside, freshman
Kenly Frey (Brookfield, Wis.) added a fast-break layup, and Leffel converted two free throws to pull Wisconsin Lutheran within 49-47 with 1:38 left in the period. UW-Oshkosh answered late in the quarter, taking a 53-47 lead into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, the Titans quickly pushed the margin back to nine on a three-pointer. Stevens kept the Warriors within striking distance with a three-pointer of her own with 1:23 left to trail 62-56, but WLC was unable to get any closer the rest of the way as UWO held on for the 65-56 victory.
Wisconsin Lutheran shot 38.2 percent (21-for-55) from the field and was led by Stevens, who scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds. Leffel added eight points, while freshman
Alexis Beger (Plymouth, Wis.) chipped in seven off the bench. Stevens and Ratzow shared the team lead with five rebounds each. Frey and sophomore
Lily Oiler (Watertown, Wis.) tied for the team lead with two steals each.
UW-Oshkosh (26-3) shot 44.4 percent (24-for-54) and placed three players in double figures. Paige Seckar led all scorers with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Sammi Beyer added 15 points and Avery Poole contributed 11. Seckar also paced the Titans with three assists and tied Sarah Hardwick for the team lead with three blocks. UWO advances to the Sweet 16 for the third straight year.
The Warriors wrapped up their 2025-2026 season 24-6 overall and 17-1 in the NACC. WLC clinched its 14th 20-plus win season in program history after winning both the NACC regular season and tournament titles. Wisconsin Lutheran also won an NCAA Tournament game for the fourth time in program history and first since 2019.
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