Fast Start Sends WLC To 11th Straight Victory

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MADISON, Wis. (WLCSports.com) - Sophomore Margie Stevens (Oneida, Wis.) recorded her second double-double of the season to lead Wisconsin Lutheran College to its 11th straight win following a 63-53 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conferenve victory over Edgewood on Saturday at Todd Wehr Edgedome.

The Warriors (16-7, 13-1 NACC), who matched their second-highest first quarter point output of the season, trailed for just 0:14 seconds en route to winning their 11th consecutive contest.

WLC faced its lone deficit of the game at 8-6 with three minutes gone by in the first quarter. An 11-0 scoring run, its largest of the game, gave Wisconsin Lutheran a 17-8 lead with three minutes remaining. The Warriors' final nine points of the opening quarter came from beyond the arc, as seniors Kara Troxel (Bonduel, Wis.) and Mack Hogenson (Neenah, Wis.), along with Stevens contributed triples for a 23-11 lead after one quarter, which saw WLC shoot 52.9 percent.

Wisconsin Lutheran held a pair of 15-point leads over the first three minutes of the second quarter behind a Stevens three and a layup from junior Jayden Hill (Kenosha, Wis.). The Eagles came back with their largest scoring run of the contest, 9-0, and shortly after were within four points. Stevens finished the first-half scoring with her second three-pointer of the period give the Warriors a 37-30 halftime lead.

WLC scored the first eight points of the third quarter, including three-pointers from senior Janiyah Goner (Milwaukee, Wis.) and Troxel for a 45-30 advantage with seven minutes left. After a nearly three-minute scoring drought, the two teams exchanged baskets the rest of the quarter, and Wisconsin Lutheran carried a 51-38 lead into the fourth quarter.

A 6-0 spurt three-and-a-half minutes into the fourth quarter pushed the Warriors' lead to a game-high 17 points at 59-42 following a layup from Goner. EC netted the next seven points, and despite WLC being held to just two points over the final five-plus minutes, the hosts were never able to bring their deficit into single digits.

Stevens finished with game-highs of 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five steals. Goner added 11 points, while Troxel tallied 10. Hill pulled down eight rebounds and freshman Lily Oiler (Watertown, Wis.) dished out three assists. Wisconsin Lutheran shot 35.8 percent (24-for-67) from the floor and made all seven of its free throw attempts.

Jordan Carlquist scored 18 points and Vivian Guerrero added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds for Edgewood (13-10, 9-5 NACC). The Eagles shot 33.3 percent (18-for-54) from the floor in the game.

The Warriors travel to Mequon on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. matchup with NACC foe Concordia Wisconsin (12-11, 11-3 NACC). Live coverage links can be found at WLCSports.com.