MILWAUKEE -- Four double-digit scorers led Alverno College to a 61-49 Northern Athletics Conference victory over the visiting Edgewood College Eagles tonight in Reiman Gymnasium on the Inferno's Senior Night.
Three of the Inferno seniors scored doubles, led by Alyssa Jensen's (Cudahy, Wis.) game-high 14 points. Amber Meka (Caledonia, Wis./Thomas More) added 12 points, Hannah Galstad (Holmen, Wis.) 10 points and a game-high six assists, while senior Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) added seven points and seven rebounds.
"I couldn't be prouder of them," Alverno head coach Brad Duckworth said. "These four seniors mean a lot to me. It's hard for me to put it into words.
"You know my favorite part of my job, and my life professionally, is my team."
Alverno junior-guard Kayla Kennedy (Trempealeau, Wis./Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau) was the fourth Inferno player to attain doubles with 10 points on a perfect 5-of-5 shooting night.
Midway through the first half the Inferno (7-15, 4-12 NAC) trailed 11-7, but a Jensen jumper ignited a 12-0 run over the next 5 minutes, which put the Inferno in command of the game and in the lead the rest of the way.
The Inferno also scored the final six points of the half to increase the lead to 12 points, 29-17, at intermission.
In the second period Alverno allowed the Eagles (9-13, 8-8 NAC) to close the gap to nine points on two separate occasions, but alternately increased the lead to a game-high 20 points on a Meka layup with less than 6 minutes to play.
Point guard Kristen Speerschneider (New Franken, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) chipped in eight points for the Inferno and also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with five assists.
Though the Alverno offense shot nearly 50 percent (25-of-51) on the night, the defense held the Eagles to under 27 percent (16-of-60) and forced 17 turnovers.
The bright spot in the Eagles' offense was a 13-of-17 performance from the free-throw line, led by Brittany Bylsma's 5-of-7 shooting from the line for a team-best 13 points.
"Tonight's not goodbye [to the seniors], it's just a celebration, because we have three games left to play this season," noted Duckworth.
Alverno hits the road next Monday night in a NAC game at Maranatha Baptist. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.