Hunter Scores Career-High in Win at UW-Superior

For Immediate Release: Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009

Superior, Wis. – The UW-La Crosse women's basketball team earned its 10th win in the last 12 games with a 80-72 victory at UW-Superior Saturday night in Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium. The Eagles improve to 15-5 overall and 7-4 in the WIAC while the Yellowjackets fall to 4-15 overall and 0-11 in the conference.

UW-L's Mackenzie Hunter scored a career-high 32 points, including 19 in the second half. She finished 11-of-17 from the field, including two-of-two from three-point range, and eight-of-16 at the free throw line. Lindsay Wahl added 23 points for the Eagles, going nine-of-11 from the field and five-of-six at the line. Dana Churchill had a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Eagles never trailed in Saturday's contest, racing out to a 17-4 lead with 15:24 left in the first half. Hunter (seven) and Wahl (six) combined for 13 of UW-L's first 17 points. UW-L led by as many as 20 points in the first half before UW-Superior cut its halftime deficit to 45-34.

UW-L started the second half on a 10-2 run to lead 55-36 with 15:25 remaining and later led 62-44 with 12:08 left. UW-Superior cut the lead to 63-53 and trailed 67-61 with 4:36 remaining, but the Yellowjackets could get no closer the rest of the game. The Eagles converted nine-of-12 free throws in the final 4:05.

UW-L shot 62.5% from the field, including 71.4% (20-of-28) in the first half. The Eagles were four-of-six (66.7%) from three-point range overall and 16-of-27 (59.3%) at the free throw line.

Hailey Hart led UW-Superior with 14 points while Kelsey Thingvold finished with 13. Anna Petersen added 11 points and Nikki Gosson 10. The Yellowjackets shot 45.9% from the field, including 21.4% (three-of-14) from three-point range. The team was 13-of-21 (61.9%) at the line.

UW-L returns to action Wednesday, Feb. 4 hosting UW-Platteville at 7 p.m.