McCurdy Tips-In Game Winner Over St. Ambrose

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team closed their final home game of 2023 with a 66-65 win over St. Ambrose on Tuesday night. The V-Hawks improve to 3-6, while the Bees fall to 2-7.

Macy Stellner scored the first basket of the game for the V-Hawks, a three assisted by Megan Miedema, and Emma Wagner followed that with three triples of her own. Nora Tucker's layup at 3:26 brough the score to 17-15, but SAU ended the opening period with a 20-19 lead.

Wagner started the second with another three pointer, and Stellner put the V-Hawks ahead again at 6:46 with a layup following an Emily McCurdy steal. A 7-2 run by the Bees gave them a 32-28 advantage, then a three with 1:27 put SAU ahead 35-30 going into the half, as neither team would score again.

Wagner and Stellner started the second half with two quick layups, but the Bees stayed hot from three, building their lead to 43-36. After going down nine, Pearla Teko-Folly scored, followed by Tucker and McCurdy. Madison Hugdahl scored the final bucket for the V-Hawks in the period, but VU still trailed 46-52.

Stellner scored to start final quarter, and her and Nicole Johnson alternated baskets until Viterbo took the lead, 54-53. With 4:43 left, St. Ambrose had gone up 63-56, but the V-Hawks did not falter, as Wagner hit a three, Stellner converted a layup, and Marley Hughes hir a huge three to close the game to 64-65. Following a St. Ambrose turnover, the V-Hawks had a chance for the win. They would miss twice, but not give up, and McCurdy converted the tip-in for the lead and the win.

Stellner and Wagner each posted 17 points for the V-Hawks, a career-high for Stellner. She also dished five assists while Johnson grabbed four rebounds. Kashell Daughty scored 14 for St. Ambrose, and Kaitlyn Brunson grabbed five steals.

The Bees shot better from the floor, 52.2% - 48.3%, and from three, 53% - 37%. They also grabbed more rebounds, 30-24, but committed more turnovers, 27-20.

The V-Hawks return to action on Wednesday, December 20 with an exhibition game at UW-Milwaukee.