Falcons grind out NACC win over Muskies

MEQUON, Wis. – The first half wasn't pretty, but a momentum-shifting six-minute stretch in the third quarter is what Concordia Wisconsin needed to grind out a 53-51 victory over Lakeland in NACC play on Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS
Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 53, Lakeland 51
Location: R. John Buuck Field House (Mequon, Wis.)
Records: Concordia Wisconsin 11-4, 8-2 NACC; Lakeland 8-7, 5-5 NACC

QUOTING AUDREY SCHARMER, BRIANNA WAGNER


HOW IT HAPPENED
- Sometimes it takes a few words of encouragement or an outstanding play to get a team going and Concordia Wisconsin received that with six minutes to play in the third quarter. After shooting just 21 percent in the first half and trailing by 12 with 6:08 left in the third quarter, head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones took a 30-second timeout.
- After some game planning and energy, the Falcons responded by going on a 15-2 scoring run to take a 40-39 lead with a quarter to play. It was a scoring run they needed, as they held on to a slim single-digit lead the rest of the way to win inside the R. John Buuck Field House.
- Concordia Wisconsin struggled from the field all game, except in the third quarter, and ended at 28.1 percent for the game, but turned the ball over just nine times. They did force 16 Muskie errors and capitalized those into 16 points.
- Senior Audrey Scharmer (Winona, Minn.) ended with her eighth double-double of the season – 10 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Brianna Wagner (Fond du Lac, Wis.) had 16 points and eight rebounds, while freshman Clara Chambers (Mineral Point, Wis.) added 13 points.
- Sophomore Ashley Solberg (Waukesha, Wis.) helped out with five points and six rebounds off the bench.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons continue their strong play on Saturdays this season, winning all seven games that end the week.
- Scharmer improves her career double-double count to 21 and is now five away from becoming the program's leader (double-doubles records are kept from 2001-02 to present). She has recorded a double-double in three-straight games and six of the last eight contests.
- Concordia Wisconsin recorded 10 steals, with three players getting at least two.

THE OPPOSITION
- Rachel Stankevich did it all for the Muskies with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, a block and steal.
- Maddy Doll added eight points, eight rebounds and a game-high four blocks.

NEXT ON THE SCHEDULE
- Concordia Wisconsin hosts MSOE on Tuesday at 7 pm in a NACC tilt inside the R. John Buuck Field House.