La Crosse, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team earned a 62-61 victory over Luther College (Iowa) Saturday in the Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic.  The Eagles improve to 2-2 on the season while the Norse drop to 2-3.  It was the home opener for UWL.  
 
Elise DeNoyer scored a career-high 27 points in the win on Saturday, also grabbing nine rebounds and adding four assists, two steals and a blocked shot.
 
UWL trailed 6-0 in the early going before getting on the board with a Dani Craig three pointer put the Eagles on the scoreboard.  Luther (Iowa) led until the 2:00 minute mark of the quarter, when Delaney Schoenenberger's jumper tied the game at 16-16.  UWL took its first lead on the next possession with a Taylor Nelson layup, and a Schoenenberger three just before the buzzer gave the Eagles a 23-17 lead after one period. 

 
In the second quarter, the score was tied on four occasions and the lead changed twice.  The Eagles had its biggest lead of the game a 34-27 on a Ava Kramer jumper with 5:35 to play, but the Norse went on an 8-1 run to tie the game at 35-35 on a three from Katie Waller with 2:31 in the half.  Schoenenberger and Waller traded three pointers, and the game was tied at 38-38 at halftime. 
 
The Eagles started the third quarter on a 10-0 run, as DeNoyer opened the frame with a three pointer, followed by two three's from Nelson.  A DeNoyer free throw made it 48-38 with 3:47 left in the third.  UWL led by as many as twelve in the quarter, and were up 56-45 going to the fourth. 
 
In the fourth quarter, Luther (Iowa) cut the lead to five points at 58-51, and 60-55, but a DeNoyer layup put UWL up seven at 62-55 with 1:58 left.  The Norse hit a pair of free throws on the next possession, and after a Eagle miss, Grayson Schroeder hit a three to cut the lead to 62-60 with 1:10 remaining.  Katie Waller hit one-of-two from the line with :40 seconds left to cut the lead to one at 62-61, and the Norse had two chances from inside the paint in the final seconds, but neither fell, and UWL held on for the win. 
 

UWL shot 32.8% from the field, including 42.1% (eight-of-19) from three-point range, and 74.1% (10-of-14) from the free throw line.  DeNoyer led all scores with 27 finishing 10-of-18 from the floor and six-of-eight from the line, while Nelson chipped in 13 and Schoenenberger added 11 for the Eagles.  Craig led UWL with 11 rebounds while Kylee Marks had nine.  Ava Kramer had three steals and Greta Saulic had two blocks. 
 
Luther (Iowa) shot 35.9% from the field, including 31.6% (six-of-19) from three-point range, and 64.3% (nine-of-14) at the line.  Waller led the Norse with 21 points, while Claire Marburger added 13 points and ten rebounds.  Anna Edel had a team-high seven assists and three steals. 

UWL improves to 20-11 all-time against Luther (Iowa), winning 73-63 a year ago.  The Eagles will face the Norse again this season on December 30 in the Justagame Holiday Shootout. 
 
UWL returns to action Sunday, November 26 hosting Viterbo University (Wis.) at 5 p.m.