Viterbo Finishes 0-2 at Big Island Holiday Classic

HILO, Hawai'i - The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team took on Arizona Christian University in their second game at the UH-Hilo Big Island Holiday Classic on Monday. The V-Hawks fell to the Firestorm 76-84 dropping Viterbo to 2-10 on the season while Arizona Christian improves to 6-7.

Layups by Natalia Leguizamon and Sophie Leinfelder helped the V-Hawks jump ahead 8-0 to start quarter one. Graciela Roybal landed two jumpers in a row putting Firestorm on the board with 5:30 left in the quarter. Julia Salmen added a three-pointer at the 4:46 mark with Viterbo up 11-6. Arizona answered back with two layups by Deniece Ryan ending quarter one 14-10. A layup by Ryan helped Firestorm to quickly tie the game 14-14 entering quarter two. Leinfelder landed a pair of free-throws followed by a layup by Leguizamon to keep Viterbo in the lead 22-14. The teams traded points before Leguizamon landed a three-pointer with the V-Hawks up 32-26 at the 4:04 mark. Alyssa Alvarez put up a three-pointer for Arizona Christian bringing the score to 39-34 heading into halftime.

Firestorm got within two points of the V-Hawks in quarter three with an Alvarez three-pointer at the 5:54 mark. A Roybal layup tied the game followed with a jumper by Halle Payne to put Firestorm up for the first time in the game, 44-46. The teams traded points with Firestorm maintaining a slight lead 52-53 at the 1:52 mark. A Leguizamon three-pointer ended the third quarter with the V-Hawks down 55-57. Leinfelder put up a layup in quarter four tieing the game 60-60. Both teams traded points tieing again at 69-69 with a three-point jumper by Alvarez. Firestorm took the lead and a three-pointer by Lauren Gunn helped extend it 72-77 with two minutes left in the game. Alvarez landed a three forcing a Viterbo timeout and putting Firestorm up 74-82. Leguizamon added a couple free throws ending the game 76-84.

Despite the loss, the V-Hawks were able to outshoot Firestorm from the field (40.7%-39.5%) and from the three (42.9%-40.7%).

Leguizamon led the V-Hawks with 29 points and 3 steals. Julia Salmen added 12 points followed by Leinfelder with 10. Nicole Johnson contributed 8 rebounds and 2 steals.

Alvarez put up 34 points and 4 assists for Arizona Christian. Roybal contributed 13 points while teammate Halle Payne recorded 10 rebounds.

The V-Hawks will ring in the new year taking on Presentation at home on Friday, January 6 at 5:30 PM CST.