For the second time in 2012-13 the Yellowjacket women's basketball team can call itself a tournament champion. Earlier in the year they took home first-place honors at the Ripon College tournament. On Sunday afternoon the Yellowjackets provided another dominating performance and cruised to a 55-34 win over Alverno College, giving them a sweep of the weekend's games at the Alverno College Tournament.
The win was also the sixth consecutive victory for the Yellowjackets, establishing a new school record. The previous mark was set last season when they won five straight games between December 17, 2011 and January 7, 2012. The win also helps the Yellowjackets continue what has developed into the best start to a season in school history.
And for the second straight day the Yellowjackets were able to give playing time to every player on the bench, with 12 scoring at least one point.
Hillary Peterson (Sturgeon Lake, Minn./Moose Lake) started the scoring for the Yellowjackets, laying one in just 17 seconds into the contest and the visitors were off and running. The Yellowjackets scored the first 15 points and blanked Alverno for almost half of the first stanza. The home team finally got on the board with a three pointer, making it 15-3 with 11:40 remaining in the first half. Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) made a layup with 5:29 left on the clock to stretch the lead to 20, and moments later Jayme Malnory (Eau Claire, Wis./Memorial) laid one in to make it a 21-point game, the high water mark for the first half. Alverno closed the first half on a 6-0 run, but the Yellowjackets went to the locker room with a huge lead, doubling up the Inferno 30-15.
The second half presented more of the same, as the Yellowjackets continued to pour on the offense, keeping the lead in double digits throughout the half. With 7:16 to play Carmen Watson (Milwaukee, Wis./James Madison) made the layup to once again make the lead 20. Watson, Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) and Molly Atherton (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) all hit baskets down the stretch to provide the final margin, 55-34.
Offensively Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) led the Yellowjackets with ten points. She was the only player to reach double figures in scoring, shooting 50% from the field. Deandra Vavra (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) added nine points after being held scoreless in her return to the lineup yesterday versus Trinity Christian. Vavra also had a team best four assists.
Linzmeier and Kristen Nett (Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) each had seven rebounds to lead the Yellowjackets. Vavra and Connie Urmanski (Edgar, Wis./Edgar) each had a team best three steals, while Peterson had all three blocks in the game for the Yellowjackets.
Devon Gorman and Kristen Speerschneider each had nine points to lead Alverno.
Milestone Update: Urmanski finished the game with seven points, giving her 995 for her career. Next up on the all-time scoring list is Stephanie Janigo (2001-05), who is seventh with 1,001 points.
The Yellowjackets (10-2, 3-1 WIAC) return to the court on Thursday, January 3 when they will travel to UW-Oshkosh. Game time against the Titans is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.