Box Score

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Every game late in the season is very important, especially when your team is battling for one of the final conference tournament spots. The Edgewood College women's basketball team traveled to Alverno College on their Senior Night and could night find an offensive rhythm while the Inferno shot nearly 50 percent in their 61-49 victory. The Eagles are now tied with Marian University for the Northern Athletics Conference North Division's final playoff spot with two games to play.

Just more than six minutes into the game, Mariah Hill nailed a three-point basket to spark a 7-0 Eagle spurt and tie the game at seven. Allison Novitske followed with her only bucket of the game and Brittany Bylsma put the Eagles (9-13, 8-8 NAC) up 11-7 with a layup.

However, the Inferno (7-15, 4-12 NAC) came storming back as Alyssa Jensen and Kristen Speershneider combined for back-to-back baskets to tie the contest at 11 with 9:10 left in the first half. Hannah Galstad gave Alverno a lead they would not relinquish with a free throw a minute later. Amber Meka capped a 12-0 Inferno run that spanned nearly six minutes, with a pair of free throws to put Alverno ahead 19-11 with less than five minutes to go in the first half. Jenna Coenen ended the run, and the Eagle drought with a layup 12 seconds after Meka's free throws.

Melanie Walker followed Coenen's bucket with a jump shot to cut the deficit to four, but the Inferno then closed the first half on a 10-2 to take a 29-17 lead at the break. The Inferno shot 45.8 percent in the first frame while holding the Eagles to a 25.9 field goal percentage.

Edgewood College cut the deficit to nine at 39-30 following a Coenen three-point basket eight minutes into the second half before the Inferno began to pull away. Alverno went on a 15-4 run to earn their largest advantage of the game, 54-34 with 5:55 remaining. The Eagles again got within nine points with 53 seconds left, but could not get any closer as Alverno went on to take the game 61-49.

The Inferno shot better in the second half than they did in the first stanza, going 14-for-27 for a 51.9 percentage. In the game Alverno shot a blistering 49.0 percent (25-for-51) while holding the Eagles to a 26.7 field goal percentage (16-for-60).

Bylsma led the Eagles with 13 points while Walker scored 12 points to go along with eight rebounds and four assists. Coenen and Hill chipped in with seven points apiece.

Jensen led four Alverno scorers in double figures with 14 points. Meka tallied 12 points while Galstad and Kennedy scored 10 points apiece.

The Eagles face NAC North Division champion, Wisconsin Lutheran College on Saturday at the Todd Wehr Edgedome. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Edgewood College will provide both live video and live stats for the contest. Both links can be found on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.