V-Hawks Shut Down Saints Three Point Shooting in Win

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team hosted University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Wednesday night, and handed the Fighting Saints their third straight loss, 65-43. The V-Hawks improve to 2-4, while the Saints fall to 3-3.

After an Emily McCurdy free throw, at 8:38 to go up 3-0, USF scored eight straight. After a five minute scoring drought, Viterbo responded with an 8-3 run to close the quarter, including a three from Marley Hughes and a pair of free throws by Lauryn Goettl.

Nicole Johnson converted a pair of free throws as the V-Hawks started the second with a 9-2 run. Emily McCurdy hit a pair of threes after a USF layup to put Viterbo up 11, and Ellie Hoesly found Pearla Teko-Folly for a layup with under 10 second left to bring the score to 29-19 at the end of the half.

St. Francis scored the first five out of the break, but McCurdy started a 10-0 run with two from the stripe, and Emma Wagner hit a triple in the run. The Saints ended the scoring drought, but Viterbo kept the pressure on as Johnson scored on consecutive possessions, and Nora Tucker hit a three for the 20 point lead to end the period.

Johnson was the first V-Hawk to score in the third as well, with Goettl adding a layup soon after. Macy Stellner converted an and-one, and Emily Bohn added a layup off an offensive board as the V-Hawks won 65-43.

Johnson led all players with 13 points and eight rebounds, while McCurdy had 12 and six to go with four steals, and Stellner contributed 10 and three steals. Akyia Baker had 10 points for the Saints.

Viterbo outshot St. Francis from the floor, 38% - 37.5%, and the Saints struggled greatly from three, only going 1-29. Viterbo hit 16-31 free throws, while USF went 6-9.

Viterbo returns to action on Thursday, November 30 as the host University of Northwestern (Minn.).