MILWAUKEE – Kristen Schulz (Safford, Ariz./Arizona Lutheran) and Maggie Gartner(Springdale, Ark./Har-Ber) posted double-doubles for the second straight game as the top-seeded Wisconsin Lutheran College women's basketball team defeated second-seeded Benedictine 71-51 Saturday night in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament Final at the Recreation Complex. With the win, the Warriors advanced to their fifth straight NCAA Tournament and seventh in program history.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Wisconsin Lutheran 71, Benedictine 51
• Records: Wisconsin Lutheran (23-4), Benedictine (18-10)
• Series: The Warriors lead the all-time series 18-2. WLC has won 12 straight games over the Eagles.
• Location: Recreation Complex, Milwaukee, Wis. | Attendance: 454

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Warriors made a strong statement early as they jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 1:39 into the game.
• Another 12-3 run followed as Wisconsin Lutheran built a 19-3 lead at the 13:17 mark.
• The Eagles came within 11 points at 27-16 before yet another 15-3 WLC run followed as the Forest Green and White led by a first-half high 23 points.
• Wisconsin Lutheran carried a comfortable 43-25 lead into the locker room at halftime after shooting an impressive 57.1 percent in the opening stanza. Schulz and Gartner recorded 17 and 14 points to go along with nine and eight rebounds, respectively.
• WLC's lead never dropped below 16 points in the second half as it led by at least 21 points for the the final 7:59 of the game. 
• The Warriors led by as many as 30 points at 71-41 with 3:04 remaining.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Wisconsin Lutheran shot 47.9 percent (23-for-48) for the game, while Benedictine finished at 32.3 percent (20-for-62).
• Schulz finished with 27 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks, while Gartner followed with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
• Christel Frey (Milwaukee, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) and Caitlin Knueppel (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wisconsin Lutheran) added nine and eight points, while Frey grabbed seven rebounds.
• Schulz tied a NCAA Division III record with her 26th double-double of the season.
• WLC out-rebounded BenU 44-33 and connected on 22 of its 32 free throw attempts.
• The Warriors won their ninth straight game and 41st at home versus conference opponents.
• Wisconsin Lutheran improved to 21-3 all-time in NACC Tournament games.
• Jasman Williams paced the Eagles with nine points as no player finished in double-figures for BenU.

QUOTABLES

• "Our team's experience in championship games played an important role in tonight's win." – Head Coach Klay Knueppel

UP NEXT

• Wisconsin Lutheran will find out its NCAA First Round opponent Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. when the 64-team bracket is unveiled during the selection show on NCAA.com.