Winona, MInn. - In their final game before a break for academic finals and Christmas, the University of Wisconisn-La Crosse women's basketball team defeated St. Mary's Univeristy (Minn.) 79-41. 
    
THE BASICS 
Final Score: UW-La Crosse 79, St. Mary's University (Minn.) 41
Location: St. Mary's Fieldhouse, Winona, Minn.
Next Up: UWL takes a 15 day break from competition as they do not return to game action until Friday, December 29 when they travel to Superior, Wis. to play in the UW-Superior Classic. The Eagles open up with St. Norbert College (Wis.) at 4 p.m. on December 29 and then will play Marian University (Wis.) on December 30 at 1 p.m.
 

HOW DID IT HAPPEN

• Trailing 9-7 midway through the first quarter, UWL went ona 9-2 run to lead 18-11 with 1:12 left. St. Mary's (Minn.) would score the final five points of the quarter to trail 18-16 after one period.  
• The Eagles got off to a fast start in the second quarter as they opened with a 19-4 run to lead 37-20 with 2:57 left in the half. Lauryn Milne sparked the run with seven points while Kailee Meeker hit two three-pointers. The Cardinals would score seven of the final 10 points to trail 40-27 at the half. 
• St. Mary's (Minn.) would pull to with in nine (40-31); however, that would be as close as they would get the rest of the game as UWL went on a 12-0 run to extend their lead to 52-31 with 2:49  left in the third quarter. A three-point play by Milne and a three-pointer by Meeker started the run for the Eagles. UWL would lead 56-37 after three-quarters.
• UWL's defense would only allow four points in the fourth quarter as they outscored St. Mary's 23-4 in the final period. The Eagles largest lead of the game came on a jumper by Sydney Torgerson to make it 79-40 with 1:31 left. 

 

FROM THE BOXSCORE

• Meeker led four players in double figures for the Eagles with 16 points to go along with five steals and four turnovers.
• Milne and Lindsey Knuth each finished with 12 points while Katie Waukau added 10 points off the bench. 
• Torgerson led the Eagles with seven rebounds as UWL finished with a 37-29 advantage on the boards.
• As a team, UWL shot 31-of-70 (44.3%) from the floor including 11-of-34 (32.4%) from behind the three-point line. UWL also shot six-for-nine (66.7%) from the free throw line.
• St. Mary's finished 15-of-38 (39.5%) from the floor including three-of-12 (25.0%) from the three-point line. The Cardinals were also eight-of-12 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
• Grace Schaffer led St. Mary's with 13 points and seven rebounds.