Falcons Mop Up Marian in NACC First Round

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW women's basketball team took care of business in the first round of the NACC Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons silenced the Sabres with a 51-39 victory to improve to 13-8 on the year and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NACC Tournament on Wednesday evening.

The Falcons jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter. Sophomore Deidre Lassiter (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had four of the Falcons' nine points in the first quarter. The Sabres closed the final 2:49 of the first quarter on a 5-0 run.

The Falcons and Sabres found themselves in a defensive battle in the second quarter, where the Falcons outscored the Sabres in the 10 minutes, 8-6. Freshman Lindsey Lonigro (Deerfield, Wis.) drained a pair of three-point baskets in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 17-13 lead at halftime.

The CUW defense allowed its second-fewest points in the first half with only the 11 points against Illinois Tech lower on the season.

The 17 points tied the season-low for the Falcons in the first half with the December game at No. 19 Wheaton.

The Blue and White earned some separation in the third quarter and a three-point basket from junior Reagan Obry (Neenah, Wis.) gave the Falcons a 13-point lead at 38-25 to close the quarter.

The largest lead of the game came with 3:11 left in the game on a free throw from Reagan Obry. Obry led the flock in the fourth quarter with five points.

Lindsey Lonigro led the Falcons with 12 points in the victory.

Reagan Obry finished one point short of a double-double performance with a career-high 12 rebounds and nine points. She also added a game-high four assists and team-high three steals.

The Falcons will wait to see the result of the Alverno game at Benedictine. If Benedictine wins, CUW will travel to Illinois on Wednesday. If the Inferno can pull off the upset, CUW will host Alverno.