Athenas Out Battle Inferno, 50-34

More news about: Alverno

CLAREMONT, Calif. -- After scoring an all-time high 107 points Thursday afternoon, the Alverno College Inferno put up a season-low total in a 50-34 loss to hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in the final game of the CMS-Caltech Winter Classic on Friday afternoon.

The Inferno tied up the game, 6-6, on a Kayla Kennedy (Trempealeau, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau) layup, but struggled shooting the ball and went nearly 10 minutes without a field goal until a Hannah Galstad (Holmen, Wis.) layup ended the drought.

Trailing 20-9 with less than 4 minutes to play in the opening period, Galstad made four-straight free throws and Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) would connect on back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Athenas' lead to three, 22-19, but a 4-2 run to close out half would keep the host team ahead 26-21.

Alverno shot under 29 percent (6-of-21) in the opening period, including just 25 percent (2-of-8) from beyond the arc.

At the 11:12 mark in the second half, a Kontowski jumper would pull the Inferno within three, 34-31, but shooting woes would continue as Alverno would be held without field goal the rest of the way, scoring only from the free-throw line in the final minutes.

Though the Inferno put up a strong defensive effort--forced 21 turnovers and held the Athenas without a 3-point field goal (0-for-9)--they shot a measly 24 percent (11-of-46) from the field and 59 percent (10-of-17) from the free-throw line. The Athenas connected on 86 percent (12-of-14) of their attempts from the charity stripe.

Galstad and Kontowski were the only Inferno players to reach double-digits, as each scored 12 points on identical 4-of-13 shooting and snagged four rebounds each. Galstad also had a game-high three steals.

Kennedy scored eight points and snagged five rebounds, before leaving the game with an injury late in the second half.

Galstad, who also had 16 points, six steals and four rebounds in yesterday's win, was named to the All-Tournament team.

CMS (5-5) was also led by a pair of scorers with in double-digits, Frannie Hemmelgarn had 14 and Jennifer Ringoen scored 13 on 5-of-8 shooting.

Alverno (4-8), which finished the nonconference portion of its schedule today, will play at Concordia University Chicago on Saturday, January 7, in Northern Athletics Conference play.