UW-La Crosse 69, Finlandia University (Mich.) 40

La Crosse, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened its 2011-12 home season with a 69-40 victory over Finlandia University (Mich.) Saturday night in Mitchell Hall in the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Tournament.  The Eagles improve to 4-1 on the season while the Lions fall to 0-4.  UW-L will face Wartburg College (Iowa) in the tournament championship game Sunday, November 27 at 3 p.m. Finlandia faces North Central College (Ill.) in the third-place contest Sunday at 1 p.m.

Wartburg earned a 65-57 win over North Central in Saturday's other game.

UW-L never trailed in Saturday's game, racing out to a 18-0 lead. Finlandia scored its first points with 8:57 remaining in the first half.  The Lions missed their first 13 shots from the field.

The Eagles, who earned their fourth straight win Saturday, connected on seven of their first 11 shots from the field. UW-L led by as many as 30 points in the first half before taking a 37-8 halftime advantage.  Finlandia shot 12.0% (three-of-25) from the field in the first half.

Finlandia could get no closer than 24 points in the second half. UW-L led by as many 35 points.

All 10 players who saw action for UW-L scored in Saturday's game. Leah Harms led the Eagles with 11 points while Mallory Cramer finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four steals.  Sarah Klopp and Alyssa Streck each had nine points while Rachael Salata and Lexi Masiak finished with eight points each.  Streck also had six rebounds while Masiak had five.

UW-L shot 46.8% from the field, including 16.7% (two-of-12) from three-point range, and 69.2% (nine-of-13) at the line.

Shaikiera Armstrong led Finlandia with 14 points and 11 rebounds while Marissa Burke finished with 10 points. 

The Lions shot 27.3% from the field, including 22.7% (five-of-22) from three-point range, and 50.0% (five-of-10) at the free throw line .

UW-L hosts Wartburg College (Iowa) Sunday, November 27 at 3 p.m. in the championship game of the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Tournament.