Warriors bound for NCAA Second Round after win over Wis.-La Crosse

Game Leaders

Wisconsin Lutheran
Pts: Erika Laete - 21
Reb: Rachel Johnson - 9
Ast: Rachel Johnson - 5
UW-La Crosse
Pts: Frank, Danielle - 15
Reb: Frank, Danielle - 13
Ast: Litrenta, Lindsey - 7

Team Stats

Wisconsin Lutheran
UW-La Crosse

Field Goals

(23-53)
(25-63)

Field Goal %

43.4%
39.7%

Rebounds

39
34

Assists

14
11

Turnovers

16
16

Pts off Turnovers

10
10

2nd Chance Pts

5
12

Pts in the Paint

26
26

Fastbreak Pts

4
0

Bench Pts

17
16
full stats
More news about: Wisconsin Lutheran
Mar 04, 2011

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Senior Erika Laete (Spokane, Wash./Evergreen Lutheran) scored a game-high 21 points and junior Rachel Johnson (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) added 20 to lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to a 73-59 win over the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship Friday at the Shirk Center.

The Warriors (26-3) will advance to Saturday's NCAA Tournament Second Round where they will face regional host Illinois Wesleyan University at 7 p.m. at the Shirk Center. The Titans (24-4) advanced by defeating Webster University (17-11) 82-70 in Friday's other first round matchup. WLC and IWU have never met on the hardwood.

Wisconsin Lutheran never trailed in the game, jumping out to an early 8-2 lead at the 16:26 mark. WLC led by a first-half high nine points twice, 22-13 and 28-19, before heading into the locker room in front by seven points, 28-21.

WLC shot 35.5 percent (11-for-31) from the floor in the opening half and were led by Laete's eight points. UW-L shot a comparable 33.3 percent (10-for-30) in the half.

The Warriors, who shot a much-improved 54.5 percent (12-for-22) in the second half, held a double-digit lead for all but 2:13 of the second half. The Eagles got within 10 points, 64-54, at the 2:21 mark, but Wisconsin Lutheran responded by extending its lead to a game-high 17 points, 73-56, with 52 seconds remaining in the contest.

Johnson scored 14 points in the second period to pace the Warriors. She finished 10-for-10 from the charity stripe for the game. The Eagles shot 45.5 percent (15-for-33) from the floor in the half.

Freshman Rachel Hoft (Germantown, Wis./Germantown) scored 13 points on a perfect 4-for-4 from three-point range to join Laete and Johnson in double figures. The Warriors shot 43.4 percent (23-for-53) from the floor for the game, while out-rebounding the Eagles, 39-34. Wisconsin Lutheran went 21-for-24 (87.5 percent) from the free throw line. UW-L was just 6-for-11 from the charity stripe.

Danielle Frank scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Eagles, who finish their season 20-8. Taylor Larson added 10 points and Dana Churchill finished with 10 rebounds. Wis.-La Crosse concluded the game shooting 39.7 percent (25-for-63) from the field.