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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Sarah Lekson
Jade Jensen

Women's Basketball Bryce Harp

Yellowjacket Advance to Championship Game

Box Score

Yellowjackets 66, Martin Luther 51
 
The Yellowjacket women's basketball team was in action Wednesday night to take on Martin Luther in the semi-final round of the UMAC Championships. The Yellowjackets were looking to make it three in a row against the Knights after having already beaten them twice in the regular season.

The Yellowjackets are now a perfect 3-for-3 against Martin Luther, as they defeated the Knights 66-51 to advance to the UMAC Championship game.

Notoriously slow starters all season, the Yellowjackets saw their first quarter woes continue Wednesday night. Martin Luther scored the first five points, before Justine Larson (Stanchfield, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) got the Yellowjackets on the board with 8:14 remaining in the quarter on a jumper, to cut the Knights lead to 5-2. Martin Luther pushed their lead to 9-2 with 4:33 remaining as the Yellowjackets couldn't seem to buy a basket. That trend continued throughout much of the quarter, as the Yellowjackets found themselves trailing 14-7 after the first quarter.

As slow as the Yellowjackets have started this season, they have also heated up extremely fast. Typically it has been the third quarter that the Yellowjackets have dominated, but Wednesday it was the second quarter that was theirs. Facing a 20-13 deficit with 6:09 remaining in the quarter, the Yellowjackets found their shooting touch. Sarah Lekson (North Branch, Minn./North Branch) hit a layup with 5:46 remaining to cut the deficit to 20-15. That started a 7-0 Yellowjacket run, that saw the Knights led erased on a Hailey Kontny (Superior, Wis./Superior) 3-pointer with 4:23 remaining. With the score tied up at 20-20, the teams began exchanging the lead back and forth. The Yellowjackets ultimately were able to take the lead, as they went into the halftime break leading 30-27.

For as good as the Yellowjackets were in the second quarter, they may have been even better in the third. The Yellowjackets opened the quarter on a 12-2 run to take a 42-29 lead with 3:36 remaining on a Bailee Bartunek (Audobon, Minn./Lake Park-Audobon) layup. Martin Luther tried to recover, but the Yellowjackets kept the lead in double-figures the rest of the quarter, as they went into the final quarter with a 47-33 lead.

The fourth quarter saw Lekson score eight straight points for the Yellowjackets as their lead grew to 55-36 with 7:03 remaining. With the game all but decided at that point, the Yellowjackets were able to cruise the rest of the way to advance to the UMAC Championship.

Lekson led the Yellowjackets in this matchup, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kontny chipped in nine points, while Bartunek finished with eight points and six rebounds.

Martin Luther was led by Grace Schulz, who had a game-high 19 points. Erin Schmeling added 11 points for the Knights.

The Yellowjackets shot 37.1% from the field, going 2-11 from beyond the 3-point arc, while hitting 18-23 from the free throw line.

Martin Luther shot 36.4% from the field, going 5-14 from beyond the 3-point arc, while hitting 14-19 from the free throw line.

The Yellowjackets finished with 15 tunovers. The Knights had 24.

Next up for the Yellowjackets (23-3, 16-0 UMAC) is the UMAC Championship game on Saturday, February 27. The Yellowjackets will be playing Northwestern to determine the playoff champion. Game time from Mertz Mortorelli Gymansium is set for 7:00 p.m.
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Players Mentioned

Bailee Bartunek

#12 Bailee Bartunek

F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Justine Larson

#15 Justine Larson

F
5' 10"
Sophomore
Sarah Lekson

#32 Sarah Lekson

F
5' 11"
Junior
Hailey Kontny

#24 Hailey Kontny

G
5' 8"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Bailee Bartunek

#12 Bailee Bartunek

5' 10"
Sophomore
F
Justine Larson

#15 Justine Larson

5' 10"
Sophomore
F
Sarah Lekson

#32 Sarah Lekson

5' 11"
Junior
F
Hailey Kontny

#24 Hailey Kontny

5' 8"
Sophomore
G