Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - If momentum is a valuable commodity for postseason basketball, then the Edgewood College women's team is rolling in it. The Eagles capped the regular season with a 72-43 bruising of Alverno College in the Northern Athletics Conference Challenge Game. With the victory, their fourth straight, the Eagles capture the fifth seed for the NAC Tournament and will play at Benedictine University on Wednesday.
Edgewood College (14-11) opened up an early 7-0 lead, but watched the Inferno tie the game at 11. The game turned in the Eagles favor just before the six minute mark of the first half. Leading by one at 17-16, freshmen Brittany Bylsma and Alison Tobin scored back to back layups for a five point Eagle lead. Thirty seconds later, Bylsma got her own rebound, drew the foul and scored. She converted the three-point play and the Eagles were off and running. Emily Decorah followed with a basket and two free throws and the Eagles led 28-16.
Alverno College (13-12) drew as close as 10 early in the second half, but Decorah would spark another Eagle run. The freshman from Waunakee scored on a put back to put the Eagles ahead 43-31. Junior Shae Beckwith would get a steal on the next possession and throw it ahead to Amber Hemp for a layup. Danielle Dixon followed with a jumper of her own and the Eagles held a 16-point lead.
With less than eight minutes to go, reserve guard Chantelle Vogt would light up the Edgedome crowd by hitting three three-point baskets in a five-minute span. Vogt, a Mount Horeb native, would finish with a career-high nine points.
The Eagles committed a season-low nine turnovers in the game. Nine marked the fewest Eagle turnovers in a game since the team was credited with four in a victory over MSOE on February 11, 2002. Hemp and Decorah led the way for the Eagles, scoring 15 and 14 points, respectively. Lexie Schmitgen and Bylsma shared high rebound honors with 11 boards apiece.
Gabby Allen led Alverno College with 15 points, while Lisa Sorgi chipped in 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds.
With the win, Edgewood College earns the fifth seed in next week's Northern Athletics Conference Tournament. The Eagles will travel to fourth-seeded Benedictine University for a quarterfinal game on Wednesday night. That game can be heard live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
