MEQUON, Wis. - Wednesday night showcased an intense showdown between the Concordia University Wisconsin and Wisconsin Lutheran women's basketball teams. In a hard-fought battle, the Warriors narrowly edged out the Falcons, claiming a 55-46 victory and dropping CUW's record to 12-12, with an 11-4 mark in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) play.
The game was a tightly contested affair, featuring seven lead changes as the teams exchanged punches throughout the night.
The Falcons set the tone early, running an effective motion offense in the first half while forcing turnovers on the defensive end. Back-to-back layups from senior Abby Hafemann (Hales Corners, Wis.) with five minutes left gave CUW an 11-6 lead.
Hafemann capped the quarter with a free throw, sending the Falcons into the second with a 12-8 advantage.
Sophomore Andrea Butterbrodt (Green Bay, Wis.) got the Falcons on the board in the second quarter with a smooth mid-range jumper off a pass from senior Aubrey DeBauch (Gillett, Wis.).
Hafemann continued her strong play, scoring inside to give the Falcons a 17-16 lead. However, the Warriors would take an 18-17 lead into the break.
The Falcons' defense was effective, forcing 10 turnovers.
The second half began with DeBauch hitting a mid-range jumper, with sophomore Gracie McNabb assisting after a drive and kick.
Jayden Ross (Baraboo, Wis.) also contributed, hitting a jump shot near the free-throw line to give the Falcons a brief 21-20 lead early in the third quarter. However, Wisconsin Lutheran responded and took a 32-25 lead into the final period.
The Falcons made a push in the fourth quarter, starting with DeBauch's jumper and McNabb's steal and score, narrowing the deficit to 29-32.
Butterbrodt added another jumper, and Hafemann continued her dominant performance, scoring a jumper and a left-handed layup to keep CUW within striking distance. Hafemann completed a three-point play at the 3:50 mark, pulling the Falcons to within 40-45.
Despite Hafemann's career-high 20-point performance, the Falcons trailed 44-51 with less than a minute remaining.
Wisconsin Lutheran sealed the game with free throws, securing the 55-46 victory.
Hafemann led the way for CUW with a career-high 20 points, while DeBauch contributed an all-around effort, finishing with nine points, a career-high eight assists, and five rebounds despite facing constant double teams. Butterbrodt added seven points, four rebounds, and two blocks to the effort.
Defensively, the Falcons were stellar, limiting the Warriors to just 55 points and 9.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. CUW also forced 11 turnovers. The Falcons' bench also made an impact, outscoring Wisconsin Lutheran's bench 20-15.
Next up, the Falcons will close out the regular season at home for Senior Day, where they will look to get revenge on Edgewood College.
