LA CROSSE, Wis. -- Alverno College lost its season opener to host Viterbo University 66-51 tonight at Beggs Senior Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis., in nonconference action.

The game was tied with less than 16 minutes to play at 33-33, but the host V-Hawks (3-3) went on a 25-6 run over the next 10 minutes to put the game out of the Inferno's reach.

Viterbo shot an astounding 57 percent from the field, including 63 percent in the second half, compared to the Inferno's meager 33 percent accuracy. The Inferno (0-1) couldn't buy a bucket early on in the game scoring their first point on a Shataya McComb (Kingston, N.Y.) free throw at 16:12 and finally connected for their first field goal on a jumper by Gabby Allen (Milwaukee/Bay View) with 13 minutes left in the first half.
Alverno's early offensive struggles were apparent in its outside shooting as the team was blanked from shots beyond the arc in the first half, going 0-of-9 in 3-point attempts. Alyssa Jensen's (Cudahy, Wis.) 3-pointer early in the second half, which tied the game at 31-31, was the Inferno's first time connecting from downtown.

Allen had game-highs of 22 points and four assists to lead all scorers and passers. She was 7of-13 from the floor and 8-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Jensen also scored doubles with 14 points in her debut appearance for the Inferno. McComb led the Inferno defense with three steals and five rebounds, and offensively went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Alverno will look to bounce back from the loss in their home opener on Friday in the 2010 Alverno Tip-Off Classic at Reiman Gymnasium in Milwaukee. Buena Vista University will take on Bethany Lutheran College at 6 p.m. in game one, and the Inferno will host Northland College at 8 p.m. in the second game. On Saturday Buena Vista will play Northland at 1 p.m., and Alverno will play Bethany Lutheran at 3 p.m.

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