Yellowjackets lead throughout in win over UW-Whitewater

Vanessa Lebens had 14 points in the win for UW-Superior.

Box Score

Superior 71, Whitewater 59

Coming off their first loss in nearly six weeks, the UW-Superior women's basketball team hoped to rebound with a big performance against UW-Whitewater Wednesday night.

The Yellowjackets came through in fine fashion, scoring the game's first eight points and built a big lead before holding off a late rally to down the Warhawks 71-59 in their WIAC Conference matchup at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

UW-Superior had three players score in double-figures and defeated UW-Whitewater for the second straight time to up their overall mark to 9-4 while also improving to 4-1 in league play. The Warhawks meanwhile fell to 6-7 and 1-3 with the loss.

The Yellowjackets started fast as Sally Linzmeier (Valders, Wis./Valders) scored the first eight points of the night to stake UW-Superior to an 8-0 lead with 15:20 remaining in the opening half.

UW-Superior took their first double-digit lead of the night at 11:57 when Vanessa Lebens (Roseville, Minn./Roseville Area) connected on two free throws before a long three-pointer by Allyssa Lindberg (Marquette, Mich./Marquette) and another score from Linzmeier upped the margin to 25-10 with 8:02 showing on the first half clock.

A three-point shot from Brynn Liljander (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti), a jumper from Lebens and four more points from Linzmeier in the last 3:04 propelled UW-Superior into a comfortable 39-22 edge at the intermission.

Linzmeier continued to display her scoring touch in the second half, knocking down a jump shot from the baseline to give the Yellowjackets their largest lead at 48-28 with 16:10 left in regulation.

The Warhawks battled back, scoring 19 of the next 23 points to trim the deficit to 52-47 after a transition layup from Andrea Olsen at the 9:47 mark.

But UW-Whitewater got no closer as the Yellowjackets rattled off the next six points for a 58-47 edge after Lebens connected on two free throws with 7:26 remaining in the second half.

The Warhawks never trimmed the lead to less than eight points the rest of the night as UW-Superior finished 17-of-19 from the free throw line for the game.

Linzmeier paced the Yellowjackets offensively with a game-high 28 points. Lebens finished with 14 while Lindberg chipped in with another 13 for UW-Superior.

UW-Whitewater was led by Malia Smith and Brooke Trewyn with 15 points each. Abbie Reeves finished with 12 points for the Warhawks as well.

The Yellowjackets hit the road to face UW-LaCrosse Saturday. Opening tipoff against the Eagles at Mitchell Hall is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Vanessa Lebens: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#1 Brynn Liljander: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#23 Allyssa Lindberg: F; 5' 11"; Junior

#33 Sally Linzmeier: G; 5' 7"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#44 Vanessa Lebens
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#1 Brynn Liljander
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#23 Allyssa Lindberg
: 5' 11"; Junior
: F

#33 Sally Linzmeier
: 5' 7"; Senior
: G