Falcons continue to win, advance to NACC Tournament Championship game

MEQUON, Wis. – Rivalries are exciting for the fans and they become intense when the postseason comes into play, however, these types of games become even sweeter for the winning team. Concordia Wisconsin was jumping with enthusiasm at midcourt on Thursday night after defeating Wisconsin Lutheran, 76-66, to advance to the NACC Tournament Championship game.

The Falcons, as the top seed, will host No. 2 Lakeland on Saturday in the title game at 2 pm inside the R. John Buuck Field House.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 76, Wisconsin Lutheran 66
Location: R. John Buuck Field House (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 22-4, Wisconsin Lutheran 16-10

QUOTING AUDREY SCHARMER

HOW IT HAPPENED
- Star players make plays when the game matters the most and Audrey Scharmer rose to the occasion in the final quarter. With the Warriors within four points with 4:12 to play in the contest, she scored eight points during the Falcons 13-3 scoring run to pull in front by 14 points with just 34 seconds remaining on the clock.
- Concordia Wisconsin's defense forced 11 turnovers in the matchup, but harassed Wisconsin Lutheran and limited them to 7-of-17 shooting (2-of-9 from downtown) over the final 10 minutes of action.
- Early in the game, as the momentum was teetering on the edge of going either direction, it was Baylee Barker who energized her teammates and the crowd with three 3-pointers during an important stretch of basketball. Her efforts propelled the Falcons to a 37-30 advantage at halftime.
- Taylor DeLong's play shouldn't go unmentioned during Concordia Wisconsin's second-period momentum shifting 10 minutes of basketball, as she tallied eight points on 4-of-6 shooting.
- The Falcons ended the victory with a 26-10 difference in bench production and held a 48-38 lead in points in the paint. They also scored 17 points off 11 Warrior turnovers.
- DeLong (senior, Milwaukee, Wis.) led the team with 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting, while Scharmer (junior, Winona, Minn.) had 15 points and nine rebounds. Barker (sophomore, Oconomowoc, Wis.) ended with 14 points and four assists.
- Senior Samantha Blissett (Springfield, Ill.) recorded four points, six rebounds and six assists. Freshman Kelsey Birschbach (Fond du Lac, Wis.) had six points, six rebounds and two assists in 15 minutes off the bench.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons improve to 14-9 all-time in the NACC Tournament. They will make their fifth appearance in the NACC Tournament Championship game, having won the title in 2007 and 2009.
- Concordia Wisconsin will be hosting its second NACC Tournament Championship game in program history on Saturday.
- The Falcons have now defeated the Warriors in six straight games.

THE OPPOSITION
- Jen Dowden led all players with 22 points, to go along with five rebounds and five assists.
- Coreana Carson added 16 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- No. 1 Concordia Wisconsin hosts No. 2 Lakeland on Saturday at 2 pm in the NACC Tournament Championship game at 2 pm inside the R. John Buuck Field House.