Wahl Named MVP of Holiday Classic as UW-L Defeats Wartburg

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Waverly, Iowa – Lindsay Wahl was named the AmericInn Holiday Classic Most Valuable Player as the UW-La Crosse women's basketball team earned an 65-57 victory at Wartburg College Tuesday afternoon. The Eagles improve to 8-3 on the season while the Knights fall to 6-4. UW-L defeated Presentation College (S.D.) 75-53 Monday night in Waverly.

Wahl had a game-high 16 points in Tuesday's win. She finished five-of-nine from the field and six-of-eight at the free throw line while also grabbing six rebounds. Wahl had 12 points and seven rebounds against Presentation.

Taylor Larson scored 15 points off the bench for UW-L Tuesday, going three-of-five from three-point range and hitting all six of her free throw attempts. Mackenzie Hunter was also named to the all-tournament honors after finishing with 13 points, four rebounds and three steals against Wartburg. She had a team-high 17 points versus Presentation. The Eagles' Dana Churchill finished with a game-high 16 rebounds versus the Knights Tuesday afternoon. She also had three points, three assists and three steals.

UW-L shot 40.4% from the field, including 44.4% (four-of-nine) from three-point range. The Eagles were 11-of-19 (57.9%) from the field in the second half. The team finished 19-of-26 (73.1%) at the free throw line.

Sharese Van Sloten led Wartburg with 15 points and seven rebounds while Abbey Hempen finished with 12 points and Katie Zittergruen 10. Zittergruen also had five rebounds. The Knights shot 37.9% from the field, including 40.0% (six-of-15) from three-point range. The team was seven-of-13 (53.8%) at the line.

The game was tied 11-11 with 9:01 remaining in the first half went UW-L went on a 8-2 run. The Eagles led 24-18 at halftime. Trailing 30-29 with 14:46 left in the contest, Wartburg went on a 8-1 run to lead 37-31 with 12:43 remaining. UW-L later took a 38-37 lead with 11:13 left on a Wahl layup and Lindsey Litrenta made it 40-37 after a jumper.

Wartburg cut the lead to 40-38 with 9:39 remaining, but could get no closer the rest of the game. UW-L went on a 10-4 run to lead 50-42 with just under five minutes left and made its last seven free throws of the contest.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, Jan. 3 hosting UW-Superior at 5 p.m.