UW-L Wins Season Opener

For Immediate Release: Friday, November 16, 2007

Waukesha, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse women's basketball team opened its 2007-08 season with a 42-26 victory over Southwestern Texas University Friday night at Carroll College's Kilgour Tournament. It was also Southwestern's season-opener.

UW-L trailed 3-2 early in the game before forcing a 13-13 tie with 10:14 remaining in the first half. The Eagles led 18-17 with 5:34 left when they finished the half on a 9-0 run to lead 27-17.

Southwestern Texas, coached by former UW-Oshkosh head coach Pam Ruder, cut the margin to 31-19 with 16:01 left, but the Pirates could get no closer the rest of the game. UW-L went on a 7-0 run to lead 38-19 with 13:20 left and led by as many as 21 points at 42-21 with 6:25 remaining.

Mackenzie Hunter led UW-L with 11 points, finishing three-of-10 from the field, including one-of-three from three-point range. She was four-of-four at the free throw line while also adding four rebounds and three assists. Sam Aspenson added eight points for the Eagles, going four-of-11 from the field. Aspenson also grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Mandy Stevens added six points for UW-L, hitting two three-point field goals. Lindsay Wahl had five points.

The Eagles' Ashley Wagner contributed eight rebounds, four points and three assists.

UW-L shot 32.7% (16-of-49) from the field, including 33.3% (three-of-nine) from three-point range. The Eagles finished seven-of-nine (77.8%) at the line. UW-L was six-of-21 from the field (28.6%) in the second 20 minutes of action, including missing all four of its three-point attempts.

Natasha Azizi led Southwestern Texas with eight points while Beth Thomas, Jessica Hoch and Staley Mullins all had four points. Hoch had a team-high six rebounds. The Pirates shot 26.7% (12-of-45) from the field and missed all 11 of their three-point attempts. Southwestern finished two-of-nine (22.2%) at the free throw line. The team shot four-of-19 (21.1%) from the field in the second half.

UW-L outrebounded Southwestern, 41-32. The Eagles totaled 19 turnovers while the Pirates finished with 24.

UW-L will face Carroll College (Wis.) in the tournament championship game Saturday at 3 p.m.