Box Score Box Score

Colorado Springs, Colo. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team defeated Hamline University (Minn.) 72-61 Monday afternoon at the Colorado College Holiday Classic in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.  The Eagles improve to 5-5 on the year while the Pipers drop to 2-8. 
 
UWL was balanced to start the game, with seven players scoring in the opening period.  The teams traded the lead several times in the quarter, but a MaKenzie Miller layup with :49 left gave the Eagles a 15-14 advantage. 
 
In the second quarter, the Eagles extended the lead to six points after a Cameron Chapin jumper with 5:56 remaining made it 22-16.
 
The Pipers went on a 10-3 run to take the lead 26-25 with 2:33 left, but the Eagles answered with a 9-2 run to end the quarter and led 35-28 at the half after a Rachel Atchison layup with :01 left. 
 
Hamline (Minn.) opened the scoring in the third quarter.  Ivannie Robertson was fouled on a made layup and hit the free throw to close the gap to four with 9:02 left at 35-31.  The Pipers would get no closer as the Eagles increased the lead to 15 points on three occasions, including 53-38 at the end of the third quarter after an Alyssa Clemment layup with :31 remaining. 
 
In the fourth quarter, UWL maintained a double-digit margin throughout, leading by as many as 17 on six occasions.  Hamline (Minn.) closed the game on an 8-2 run to make the final margin 11 at 72-61.

"I was pleased with our performance on both ends of the floor after being off for 10 days," said UWL head coach Lois Heeren.  "We played with a lot of intensity on defense which caused Hamline to rush many of its shots on the offensive end.  Offensively, we were very balanced with our inside/outside game."
 
UWL shot 45.3% from the field, including 50% (three-of-six) from three-point range, and 52.4% (11-of-21) at the free throw line.  Miller led the Eagles with 18 points, eight rebounds, and four blocked shots.  She was seven-of-10 from the floor and four-of-five from the free throw line. Atchison added eleven points and four steals for UWL while Maggi Bishop added eight points and five rebounds.  Sierra Watrud scored eight points and Cameron Chapin had five rebounds.  Atchison, Bishop, and Elise DeNoyer each had three assists. 
 
Hamline (Minn.) shot 34.5% from the field, including 38.5% (five-of-13) from three-point range, and 57.1% (16-of-28) at the line.  Tia Diggins led the Pipers with 13 points with Chelsey Bonsante adding 11.  Emily Behrman scored 10 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists.
 
UWL will face Central College (Iowa) Tuesday, December 29 at 3 p.m. (Central) in the Colorado College Holiday Classic Championship game.