Halat Hits Game-Winning Shot over Bethel

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 30, 2007

Milwaukee, Wis. - The UW-La Crosse women's basketball team improved to 3-3 on the season with a 75-73 victory over Bethel College (Ind.) Friday night in the Cardinal Stritch University Tournament. The Eagles advance to the championship game at 3 p.m. against Cardinal Stritch. Bethel, ranked sixth in NAIA, suffered its first loss of the season as they drop to 7-1.

Bethel led by as many as 15 points in the first half Friday night, leading 36-21 with 3:45 remaining. The Lady Pilots went on a 16-5 run to take their 15-point lead. UW-L cut the lead to 42-30 at halftime.

The Eagles trailed by 15 points three different times in the second half, including 64-49 with 9:08 left. Bethel led 67-55 with 6:22 remaining when UW-L went on a 12-0 run to tie the contest with 3:04 remaining. After the Lady Pilots took a two-point lead on a jumper from Natalie Young, the Eagles' Mackenzie Hunter tied it at 69-69 with 2:13 left on a jumper of her own. Paul Stout gave Bethel a 71-69 lead with 2:02 remaining, but Sam Aspenson forced a tie with 1:04 left.

Young hit a pair of free throws with :45 remaining for a 73-71 lead, but Hunter tied the contest for the fifth time on a jumper with :24 left. After a Bethel turnover with :15 remaining, UW-L's Anna Halat hit the game-winning jumper as time expired to give the Eagles' the 75-73 win.

Hunter led UW-L with 15 points, four assists and four steals while Aspenson added 14 points and a team-high six rebounds. Amanda Waldvogel totaled 12 points while Halat finished with 11. The Eagles shot 42.6% from the field, including 51.5% (17-of-33) in the second half. The team was six-of-11 (54.5%) from three-point range in the game and finished 11-of-13 (84.6%) at the free throw line.

Young led Bethel with 32 points. The Lady Pilots shot 53.2% from the field, including 58.3% (seven-of-12) from three-point range. Bethel was 16-of-21 (76.2%) at the free throw line.

UW-L returns to action Saturday, December 1 playing Cardinal Stritch at 3 p.m.