Waukesha, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team continues to make history as they defeated Carroll University (Wis.) to advance to their first ever National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III Sweet 16.
THE BASICS
Final Score: UW-La Crosse 80, Carroll University (Wis.) 60
Location: Ted H. Baker Court,
Waukesha, Wis.
Records: UWL 20-9, Carroll University (Wis.) 23-6.
NCAA Tournament History: For the second straight season, UWL found themselves in the NCAA III Second Round but the result was different this season. With the win UWL makes history as they advance to third round of national tournament and improve their NCAA III tournament record to 8-6 all-time.
Next Up: UWL will now play Southern Maine in the NCAA III Third Round on Friday, March 13 on the campus of New York University.. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. eastern (4:00 p.m. central).
FROM THE PRESS ROOM
Grace Knupp
HOW DID IT HAPPEN
- UWL would score first on a lay-up by Madisyn Kilboten as they built an early 9-3 lead. Trailing 13-8 at the media timeout of the first first quarter, Carroll scored six straight points to take its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 3:28 left in the quarter. The Eagles would score seven of the final nine points of the first quarter to lead 20-16. Malia Nelson would hit a lay-up as time expired for the four point lead.
- The Eagles would continue their run as they scored 10 of the first 15 points to lead 30-21 with 4:37 left in the first half. Two free throws by Carroll's Natalie Gricius would cut the Pioneers deficit to 34-30 with :24 remaining. Nelson would convert a three-point play with :01 left as the Eagles led 37-30 at halftime.
- UWL came out of halftime on a mission as they opened up with a 17-6 run to take a 54-36 lead (3:50). Molly Janke would spark the Eagles run with seven points. Emilie Wizner's three-pointer cut the Eagles lead to 49-46 but UWL would score the final five points including a Katie Waukau three-pointer to lead 64-46 entering the fourth quarter.
- Carroll's Julia Lokker would hit a three-pointer to start the fourth quarter but UWL would score 14 of the next 17 points to take its largest lead of the game at 78-53 with 2:44 remaining. The Pioneers would not get any closer than 18 (78-60) the rest of the contest.
Molly Janke and Jenna Welsch
FROM THE BOX SCORE
- As a team, the Eagles finished 35-of-67(52.2%) from the floor including five-of-21(23.8%) from the three-point line. UWL was also five-of-eight (62.5%) from the free throw line.
- For the second straight night, UWL had four players in double figures led by Grace Knupp with 17 points. Knupp added five assists and four rebounds for the Eagles.
- Joining Knupp in double figures was Nelson with 15 points while Jenna Welsch and Janke each added 11 points.
- .Janke grabbed a game high 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the weekend as UWL had a 42-24 advantage on the boards.
- Carroll University shot 22-of-55 (40%) from the floor including 10-of-25 (40%) from the three-point line. The Pioneers also shot six-of-six(100%) from the free throw line.
- Natalie Gricius led the Pioneers with 24 points while Emilie Wizner added 17 points.
