V-Hawks Advance to Conference Semifinals with Win Over Bruins

 LA CROSSE, Wis. – The Viterbo University Women's Basketball team earned a win in the first round of the 2024 NSAA Women's Basketball Postseason Tournament, 72-63 over Bellevue University (Neb.) on Wednesday. The V-Hawks improve to 12-12 on the year and advance to the semifinals at Mayville University (ND). The Bruins season ends at 11-17.

Emma Wagner started the game with a pair of three pointers assisted by Marley Hughes, then Hughes hit a jumper of her own. Nicole Johnson and Hughes each added threes as well, as Viterbo took a 17-10 lead. The Bruins hit a pair from the line to bring to the score to 17-12 after the first.

After an Emily McCurdy jumper, Wagner hit another Hughes-assisted three, however, Bellevue closed the game within two, 22-20. Hughes hit another triple, and Pearla Teko-Folly was true from the short corner, but BU matched each basket. Macy Stellner ended the half with a three, the V-Hawks ahead by five, 30-25.

Stellner also scored the first five points of the second half for Viterbo, but a three by the Bruins gave them the lead, 37-35. They added another three, but McCurdy answered with one, and Hughes' jumper gave the advantage back to Viterbo, 43-42. After Johnson hit two from the line, BU scored with under 30 left, and Viterbo led by one, 54-44, into the final period.

Baskets from Johnson, Stellner, and Wagner helped Viterbo take a commanding, 52-45 lead, and Wagner's fifth three of the match extended it to 57-49. Viterbo matched each of the Bruins scores, including another McCurdy three and a Hughes and-one, and the V-Hawks were able to hold onto a 72-63 win.

Wagner led five V-Hawks in double digits with 16 points, Stellner had 14 with four steals, Hughes posted 13 with eight assists and six rebounds, McCurdy had 11 points and matched four steals, while Johnson scored 11 and blocked three shots. Ashtyn Arnold had 17 for Bellevue.

The Bruins were more efficient from the floor, 45.5% - 41.8%, but Viterbo was much better from three, 46.2% - 28.6%. The Bruins grabbed more rebounds, 33-24, but their downfall came from turnovers, committing nine more, 19-10, leading to 24 V-Hawk points.

The V-Hawks travel to top seeded Mayville State (ND) on Sunday for the NSAA Semifinals.