Wisconsin Dells, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Women's Basketball team opened day one of the Justagame DIII Invitational by falling 63-57 to nationally ranked Bethel University (Minn.) on Friday night.
THE BASICS
Final Score: #19 Bethel University (Minn.) 63, UW-La Crosse 57
Location: Justagame Fieldhouse, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Records: UWL 6-4, Bethel University (Minn.) 6-1
National Rankings: Bethel University (Minn.) is ranked 19th on this weeks D3hoops.com Top-25 Poll while the Eagles are receiving votes.
Next Up: Day two of the Justagame DIII Invitational will see the Eagles play Lawrence University (Wis.) at 1:00 p.m.
Molly Janke
HOW DID IT HAPPEN
- UWL got off to a fast start as they scored the first seven points and led 14-2 with 4:07 left in the first quarter. Bethel scored seven unanswered but a Rachel Agg three-pointer would give UWL a 17-9 lead with 2:23 on the clock. The Royals would scored five of the final seven points of the first quarter as they cut their deficit to 19-15.
- Rosalie Penke would open the scoring in the second for Bethel with a three-pointer followed by a Colette Duininck layup to give the Royals its first lead of the game at 20-19. Eagle layups by Jenna Welsch and Grace Knupp would give back the lead to UWL (23-20) with 5:05 left in the first half. A three-pointer by Rachel Agg put UWL up 28-26; however, Bethel would score the final four points of the first half to lead 30-28 at halftime.
- In the third quarter, UWL would take a 33-32 lead on a pull up jumper by Molly Janke but that lead would not last long as Bethel scored nine straight to take its largest lead at 41-33 with 6:42 on the clock. The Eagles would slowly chip away at their deficit and pull within 43-42 on a Welsch layup with 2:56 left in the third quarter. Bethel would lead 47-42 heading into the fourth quarter.
- Emily Erickson would extend Bethel's lead to 49-42 before UWL scored eight straight including six by Knupp to take a 50-49 lead 6:28 left in the game. A three-point play by Macy Littlefield would start a 9-0 run for the Royals to put Bethel up 58-50. Agg's fourth three-pointer of the game with :46 left would cut the Eagles deficit to 60-55 but that would be as close as they would get as Bethel hit three-of-four free throws to seal the game.
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- As a team, the Eagles finished 25-of-65 (38.5%) from the floor including seven-of-25 (28%) from the three-point line. UWL did not attempt a free throw.
- UWL was led by three players in double digits led by Welsh with 14 points while Agg finished with 12 points and Knupp chipped in 10.
- Janke added six points and a game high 10 rebounds while dishing out four assists.
- The Royals shot 18-of-47 (38.3%) from the floor including four-of-12 (33.3%) from the three-point line. Bethel was also 23-of-27 (85.2%) from the free throw line.
- Bethel was led by four players in double digits including Elly Schmitz with 15 points. Schmitz also had a team high nine rebounds.
