V-Hawk basketball impresses on homecoming
A successful homecoming night saw both Viterbo basketball teams win decisively against the Presentation College Saints at R.W. Beggs, Sr. Gymnasium in La Crosse, Wis. The women’s team overcame the visitors with a score of 85 to 46, while the men fended off a late comeback by the Saints to win it 95 to 75.
The women’s game tipped-off first, and the V-Hawks took an early lead in the first quarter. By half-time, Viterbo had established a 32-point deficit, putting the score at 45-13. The V-Hawks did not let up in the second half, and their relentless pressure resulted in a deserved win on homecoming night. Viterbo’s record improved to 10-14 on the season, with a 7-6 record in conference play.
Four V-Hawks hit double digits over the course of the game. Alyssa Nielsen, a senior from Wilson, Wis., led the team with 13 points. Meanwhile, Sophie Leinfelder, a freshman from La Crosse, Wis., and Brynn Bozich, a senior from Ramsey, Minn., totaled 11 points each. Madison Lindauer, a freshman from Tomah, Wis., trailed closely with ten points on the game.
Soon after the women’s victory, it was the men’s turn; their game proved to be a tighter affair. After Viterbo took a substantial 56 to 27 lead into halftime, Presentation rallied during the rest of the game, scoring nine more points than the V-Hawks in the second half. However, the Saint’s effort was not enough, and Viterbo walked away with the win.
Tyree Young led the scoring for the V-Hawks, totaling 30 points. This allowed the senior from Milwaukee, Wis., to tie his season-high total. Noah Frederickson, a junior from Onalaska, Wis., and Brady Polk, a sophomore from Berlin, Wis., both posted double digit scores, contributing 14 and ten points, respectively. Thanks to the win, Viterbo’s overall record improved to 13-13, and their conference record became 7-6.
The evening was made even more special by the fact that it was senior night for the men’s basketball team. The V-Hawks honored their two graduating seniors, Tyree Young and Alex Clement. Young joined the team his junior year after transferring to Madison college, while Clement, a senior from Pewaukee, Wis., has been with Viterbo since his freshman year.