Leinfelder Lifts Viterbo over Presentation

ABERDEEN, SD – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team broke a seven game-winning streak on Saturday night as they defeated Presentation College (SD), 68-64. The V-Hawks improve to 6-19 (3-10 NSAA), while the Saints fall to 2-22 (1-12 NSAA).

After a pair of Presentation baskets, Viterbo scored nine straight , seven of which came from Sophie Leinfelder with the help of a Kaitlyn Kennedy steal and assist. The Saints responded with a nine point run of their own, broken by Madison Hugdahl's jumper with 45 seconds left. However, Presentation would lead 11-17 at the end of the period.

Hugdahl continued into the second quarter with two more jumpers, followed by a Tyreesha Blaylock field goal to bring the score to 17-19. A four minute drought by the V-Hawks gave the Saints a double digit lead with 3:50 left, but Leinfelder and Emma Wagner got hot from three, hitting four on assists from Kennedy and Emily Bohn to bring the score within four, 29-33 going into halftime.

Emma Ogitchida started the scoring in the third for Presentation, and although Viterbo would score only two points over the first five minutes, Macy Stellner would find Wagner for another triple to get the scoring going. Hugdahl scored four more and blocked a shot, while Kennedy and Blaylock each hit jumpers with under a minute to make it a one possession game, 43-45, going into the final period.

Nicole Johnson tied the game and Kennedy gave Viterbo a lead at 8:53. The teams traded leads and ties over the next four minutes, until Lenfelder's three at 4:43 put Viterbo up 57-55. Natalia Leguizamon followed that with a steal, layup, and triple of her own to extend that lead to 62-55. The Saints began to foul, and the V-Hawks hit their shots down the stretch to win 68-64.

While Presentation outshot Viterbo from the floor, 47%-41%, but the V-Hawks had the advantage from three, 38.5%-28.5%. Viterbo also forced seven more turnovers, leading to 12 more points.

Leinfelder led all players with 24 points and had five rebounds. Hugdahl added 11 points and five boards, while Kennedy had seven points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals.

The V-Hawks complete their regular season schedule on Thursday, February 16 at Waldorf University (Iowa).