V-Hawks Earn First Victory of the Season

CANTON, Mo. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team earned their first win of the season, a 72-41 victory over Hannibal-LaGrange University (Mo.) on the first day of the Atrium Hotel on Third Classic, hosted by Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) Friday night. The V-Hawks improve to 1-1 while the Trojans fall to 1-1.

Nicole Johnson's layup tied the game at 7-7 halfway through the first quarter, followed by a Sophie Leinfelder block that led to a jump shot and a 9-7 lead. Bella Jadwin's jumper tied the game at 9-9 with 2:54 in the opening quarter, but Tyreesha Blaylock's layup started a 6-0 V-Hawks run to close out the quarter and Viterbo would hold the lead the rest of the game. Natalia Leguizamon kept the momentum going into the second quarter with a layup. Rebekah McCombs hot a jump shot to bring the score to 17-13 with 8:30 in the second, but that would be followed by a 12-0 Viterbo run highlighted by a Julia Salmen three-pointer, and a Megan Miedema steal into a layup. Macy Stellner and Miedema each hit jump shots in the waning second of the half to give Viterbo a 33-15 lead going into the break.

Viterbo would start the second half cold, not scoring until almost four minutes in on a Kaitlyn Kennedy layup, but that would be followed by a three from Gina Stefferud and two from Emma Wagner. The
Trojans ended the third period with a pair of free throws from Ashlyn Vermeer to bring the score to 53-27. Leguizamon hit a three, followed by a block-to-layup with 5:09 in the game to end her day and put VU up 69-35. Salmen's three with 2:21 left would be the final points for Viterbo, and HLU hit four free throws to end the game.

Viterbo out shot Hannibal-LaGrange 46.2% to 29.6% while the Trojans had the edge from three-point range 33.3%-29.6%, and in the rebounding column 41-35. Viterbo also had more assists, 17-13 and forced 25 turnovers that led to 29 points.

Leguizamon led all scorers with 15 points while contributing three assists, Blaylock had 11, and Wagner recorded eight points with six boards.

 Ashlyn Vermeer led the Trojans with 14 points and McCombs added 10 points and five rebounds.

Viterbo returns to action on Saturday for the second day of the Atrium Hotel on Third Classic against Missouri Baptist.