Scharmer records double-double to lead Women's Basketball past Edgewood

MEQUON, Wis. – Audrey Scharmer recorded her second double-double in as many games to lead Concordia University Wisconsin to a 74-67 victory over Edgewood College on Wednesday night. The victory was the eight-consecutive over the Eagles in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference play.

Scharmer (freshman, Winona, Minn.) netted a career-best 15 points on 7-of-13 shooting and hauled in 10 rebounds. The Eagles drained a 3-pointer to get within six points, 67-61, with 2:46 to play, but it was Scharmer's heads-up layup off a missed 3-pointer to beat the shot clock on the next possession which gave put the momentum back in favor of the Falcons.

"We are young and that showed at times tonight," head coach Stacey Brunner-Jones said. "We need to do a better job managing the clock and our possessions in critical parts of the game. I am happy though that we kept our composure and didn't back down when Edgewood made a run in the second half and that will hopefully help with our toughness."

Both teams battled, however, CUW led for nearly 37 minutes (a season-high). The Falcons also turned the ball over a season-low 10 times and drained a season-best 19 free throws.

"We want to thank the professors and staff for supporting us tonight," Brunner-Jones expressed. "There encouragement and leadership doesn't go unnoticed by us."

Junior Madelyn Landgraf (Elkhart Lake, Wis.) scored a team-high 19 points, which included 8-of-11 from the free throw line, while junior Megan Coenen (Green Bay, Wis.) finished with 14 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Sophomore Sammi Blissett (Springfield, Ill.) ended with a career-best nine points and freshman Caitlin Hewitt (Ishpeming, Mich.) and sophomore Taylor DeLong (Milwaukee, Wis.) each had six points off the bench. Junior Laura Kolander (Corcoran, Minn.) recorded career-highs with seven rebounds and four assists.

Rachel Pope led the Eagles and all players with 21 points, while Mariah Hill scored 13 points. Hannah Menzia added 10 points off the bench. Sierra Jiran had six points and eight rebounds, while Sammy Gander led EC with nine rebounds.

After the Eagles took a quick 2-0 lead, the Falcons answered with an 18-5 scoring run over the next six minutes to take control of the game. EC responded and got to within four points, 26-22, but CUW put together an impressive 15-2 scoring run before eventually leading 41-28 at halftime.

CUW increased its advantage to a game-best 18 points with 17:11 remaining in the game, but EC wouldn't go away quietly. The Eagles (1-4, 1-2 NACC) slowly chipped away and were down by three points, 55-52, with 8:23 left in the game. The Falcons gathered themselves and regained control before the final buzzer sounded.

CUW (4-1, 2-1 NACC) returns to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. against Benedictine University inside the R. John Buuck Field House as the first part of a doubleheader.