Leinfelder Sets Career-High on Senior Day

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team lost to Valley City State University (N.D.), 78-79, on a buzzer beater on Saturday afternoon. The V-Hawks drop to 5-18 (2-9 NAA), while the Vikings improve to 14-10 (7-4 NSAA).

Gina Stefferud started the scoring for the V-Hawks, followed by a Sophie Leinfelder layup at 7:39. Natalia Leguizamon stole the ball and converted a layup at 3:35 to tie the game at 13-13, and two minutes later, Stefferud would convert an and-one. Kaitlyn Kennedy hit a three to end the quarter and tie the game at 19-19.

The Vikings started the second quarter with a 12-2 run that Emily McCurdy broke with a three at 5:25. Leinfelder followed it with a 9-2 run by herself, and ended the half by finding McCurdy in the corner for a three, bringing the score to 36-33  going into the break.

Stefferud and Emma Wagner each assisted a field goal for theother to start the third, but VCSU tied the game 48-48 at 6:21 on an Ashlyn Diemert three. Macy Stellner grabbed an offensive board and put in the layup at 4:39, and Wagner would hit another three to end the period with the V-Hawks ahead 57-56.

Leinfelder's triple and Leguizmon's free throws to start the fourth helped give Viterbo a 63-58 lead. Nicole Johnson put in a layup off an offensive board at 5:39 to keep the V-Hawks ahead, and Leinfelder made it a five point lead with two minutes left. Luguizamon blocked a Viking game-winning attempt out of bounds, giving them another try, which Ashlyn Diemert hit at the buzzer.

The teams shot almost identically from the floor (37.7%-37.2%) , but Viterbo had the edge from three (37.5%-25%). Valley City won the rebounding battle, 50-40.

Leinfelder led all players with a career-high 25 points, Leguizamon added 14 and two steals, nd Kennedy had seven points and seven boards. Diemaert had 23 and Hailey Roberts had 20 for the Vikings.

The V-Hawks return to action on Friday, February 10 at Mayville State University (N.D.).