IU Northwest Completes Comeback to Spoil Home Opener

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team fell 70-77 to Indiana University-Northwest in their first game of the Gunderson Hotel and Suites V-Hawk Classic on Friday afternoon. The V-Hawks drop to 1-3 while the Red Hawks improve to 4-0.

Emma Wagner nailed two three pointers before the six-minute mark in the first quarter to put the V-Hawks up 10-7. IUN took their first lead of the game 10-11 at the 4:59 mark, and the teams would trade leads with Viterbo being kept alive by Natalia Leguizamon and Sophie Leinfelder's layups. Tyreesha Blaylock ended the opening period with a layup, and Viterbo led 22-19. The V-Hawks would use a 12-0 run the in the second quarter, fueled by Leguizamon and Wagner, to go up 37-25 at the 3:40 mark. Leinfelder hit another jumper to extend Viterbo's lead to 44-32 going into the break.

Leinfelder led Viterbo in the first half with 11 points on perfect 4-4 shooting, Leguizamon also had 11 with four rebounds. Tiara Jackson led IU Northwest with 10 points.

The Red Hawks scored the first 14 points of the third quarter to take the 44-46 lead on a Makayla Best three. Nicole Johnson finally ended the run with a layup at 5:09, assisted by Ellie Hoesley. Kaitlyn Kennedy sank a pair of free throws, followed by Blaylock's jumper to put the V-Hawks up 54-50 going into the final quarter. Leguizamon, Wagner, and Johnson kept VU up to start the fourth, but Best scored eight points on her own to tie the game at 66-66, then her clutch three extended the lead to 72-66 with 1:30 left. Leinfelder scored four straight points, but Viterbo's rally ended there, and IUN claimed the win 77-70.

Viterbo outshot IU Northwest 42.4%-38.91%, including 44.4%-38.1% from three, but the Red hawks won the rebound battle 51-34, which led to 21 second chance points.

Leguizamon posted 15 points with six boards, two blocks and a steal. Leinfelder also scored 15, dished out three assists, and had two steals. Johnson reached 11 points while blocking four shots, and Wagner (11), and Blaylock (10) reached double digits as well.

Best scored a game-high 17, closely followed by Jacksons 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Sarah Martin and Michaela Schmidt each had 11.

The Gunderson Hotel and Suites V-Hawk Classic concluded tomorrow, with Viterbo taking on Iowa Wesleyan at 3 PM.