V-Hawks Battle Ranked Comets on Senior Night

LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team completed their 2023-24 regular season with a 46-72 loss to #12 Mayville State University (ND) on Friday night. The V-Hawks fall to 11-12 (6-6 NSAA), while the Comets improve to 21-3 (10-1 NSAA).

Emily McCurdy scored the first basket of the game, and the teams traded scores early. After a Nicole Johnson layup, Mayville went on a 12-1 run that included four three-pointers. Lauryn Goettl's jumper ended the run, and McCurdy scored to end the quarter, the V-Hawks trailing 17-12.

Emma Wagner scored to start the second, then McCurdy hit a three assisted by Marley Hughes to tie the game at 17-17. A pair of Wagner free throws gave Viterbo the lead, but following a Hughes jumper, the Comets sored 10 unanswered points. McCurdy's layup got Viterbo back on the board, leaving the score at 25-33 going into halftime.

MSU scored the first eight points out of the break before Macy Stellner got the V-Hawks on the board. Hughes converted a layup, then found Wagner for three, but the Comets used a huge quarter to extend their lead to 59-32.

McCurdy hit both from the line, and Hughes nailed a triple, but Mayville continued to extend their lead. Johnson put in a pair of baskets, Gottel scored four straight, and Nora Tucker's three brought the final score to 72-49.

McCurdy led the V-Hawks with 13 points, Hughes added 11, and Johnson contributed eight rebounds and three steals. Jordan Zrust had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Mayville.

The Comets outshot the V-Hawks 47.3% - 34.5% from the floor, including 40% - 26.7% from three. Viterbo grabbed more rebounds, 37-33, but committed more turnovers, 21-18.

The V-Hawks will host a first-round NSAA Conference Tournament game on Wednesday, February 21, with the time and opponent TBD.