V-Hawks Fall to Comets in Mayville

MAYVILLE, ND – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team lost a North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) bout at Mayville State (ND) on Friday night, 64-95. The V-Hawks drop to 5-19 (2-10 NSAA), while the Comets improve to 18-5 (10-2 NSAA).

Both teams would start with multiple empty possessions until Gina Stefferud found Natalia Leguizamon for a three-pointer two minutes into the game. Sophie Leinfelder and Tyreesha Blaylock each recorded steals, eventually leading to a Kaitlyn Kennedy three, assisted by Emma Wagner. Stefferud score three points in quick succession to give Viterbo the 14-12 lead at 3:33, but the V-Hawks would fail to score again in the period and the Comets built a 14-25 lead.

Nicole Johnson broke the run with a jumper to start the second, then found Leinfelder for a triple. Leguizamon would steal the ball, leading to a fast break layup to make it a single digit game at 5:4, but Mayville would answer with another nine-point run. Leguizamon's three stopped the run at 2:23, and Julia Salmen scored to end the half, bringing the score to 29-49.

Blaylock would be the first V-Hawk to score in the third, but the Comet's press would help extend their lead with multiple Jordan Zrust baskets. Macy Stellner scored a layup at 4:42, and Madison Hugdahl hit her first two shots off the bench, leaving the score at 45-70 going into the final period.

Leinfelder's three to start the fourth quarter started a 9-0 run for the V-Hawks that included two more Hugdahl jumpers. However, MSU answered with their own run, and wouldn't look back. Hugdahl and Stellner each scored late baskets to bring the final score to 64-95.

Mayville State outshot Viterbo 52%-45%, including 44%-36% from three. The Comets also won the rebounding battle 30-36, and forced more turnovers, 16-25.

Hugdal scored a career-high 13 points for the V-Hawks, and Leguizamon had 13 points as well to go with 3 steals. Leinfelder had nine and five assists, and Kennedy had nine with five boards. Zrust had 29 points and 15 rebounds for Mayville.

The V-Hawks return to action on Saturday, February 11, at Presentation College (SD).