Superior Shooting not Enough to Top Spartans

CANTON, Mo. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team fell 51-61 to Missouri Baptist University in their final game of the House Atrium Hotel on Third Classic hosted by Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) on Saturday afternoon. The V-Hawks drop to 1-2 while the Spartans improve to 2-1.

Natalia Leguizamon and Kaitlyn Kennedy scored the first nine points for the V-Hawks, including a Kennedy 3-pointer set up by a Tyreesha Blaylock steal at 6:42 to force a Missouri Baptist timeout, down 9-4. The Spartans came out of the timeout with an 8-0 run, and while Sophie Leinfelder's layup tied the game at 12-12, MBU would take a 14-12 lead at the end of the opening period.

Leguizamon hit a pair of threes to open the second quarter and put VU up 20-14 at 7:16, and hit a third at the 4:15 mark. Emma Wagner followed with one of her own, assisted by Julia Salmen, to extend the Viterbo lead to 10, 28-18. The V-Hawks would go cold, not scoring for the final 3:36 of the half, but would take a 28-23 lead into the break.

Kennedy opened the third with a three and Blaylock sank one of her own at 7:32. Leguizamon put VU up 36-29 with a layup at 5:53, but the Spartans went on a 9-0 run over the final 5:35 of the quarter to take a 38-36 lead into the final period.

Emma Wagner ended the drought with a pair of free throws at 9:33, and Leguizamon hit her fourth three of the game to put Viterbo back on top 41-40. Kennedy converted an and-one to go back up 46-45, which would be the V-Hawks final lead. Ellie Hoesley's jumper brought the game back within two, but after Alexis Allstun's layup put MBU up six, Viterbo was forced to foul and were unable to convert offensively, ending the game down 51-61.

Viterbo outshot Missouri Baptist 38%-32.3%, including 33.3%-10% from three. However, the Spartans would win the rebounding battle 44-35 and the turnover battle 13-23.

Leguizamon led all players with 20 points and added four boards. Kennedy had 13 points and a team high three assists, while Leinfelder recorded three steals.

Allstum led Missouri Baptist with 15 points, Deyana Dodd had 14, and Lauren Ebert had 10 with a game-high nine rebounds.

Viterbo returns to the hardwood on Friday, November 11 as they host the Gunderson Inn and Suites V-Hawk Classic and take on Indiana Northwest University.