UW-La Crosse 81, Finlandia University (Mich.) 51

La Crosse, Wis. - Dana Churchill tied her career-high with 16 points as the UW-La Crosse women's basketball team earned a 81-51 victory over Finlandia University (Mich.) Sunday afternoon in Mitchell Hall in the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic. The Eagles improve to 5-1 on the season while the Lions fall to 1-5.

Finlandia led 7-6 with 15:30 left in the first half, but Lindsey Litrenta hit a jumper for UW-L to give the Eagles a 8-7 lead and UW-L never trailed again. The Eagles led 11-9 with 13:44 remaining in the opening half when they went on a 9-2 run.

UW-L led 26-18 with 7:23 left in the first half before ending the half on a 17-5 run to lead 43-23 at intermission.

The Lions could get no closer than 17 points in the second half at 48-31 with 16:35 left. The Eagles led by as many as 32 points in the second half.

Churchill was seven-of-nine from the field and two-of-three at the free throw line for her 16 points. She also had seven rebounds. Stacie Van Handel scored nine points off the bench for UW-L while Sam Peacock finished with eight and Briana Radowicz seven.

UW-L shot 42.2% from the field, including 30.4% (seven-of-23) from three-point range. The Eagles were 20-of-26 (76.9%) at the free throw line after entering the game shooting 53.0%.

UW-L scored 41 points off 31 Finlandia turnovers.

Ally Tincknell led Finlandia with 14 points while Josie Riutta scored 11 points and finished with a game-high nine rebounds. The Lions shot 33.9% from the field, including 22.2% (two-of-nine) from three-point range. The team was nine-of-13 (69.2%) at the line.

UW-L opens WIAC play Wednesday, Dec. at UW-Whitewater in a 7:05 p.m. start.