Photo Gallery
Post-game Interview (w/ Coach Peters and
Alexis Becker)
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (SabreAthletics.com) – On Senior Night, senior
Alexis Becker made it one to remember as she poured in a season-high 30 points to lead the Marian University women's basketball team to an 86-75 conference victory in the regular season home finale inside Sadoff Gymnasium this evening, Feb. 15. That, coupled with an Edgewood College loss, also means the Sabres secured the final NAC tournament bid.
Becker scored 22 of her 30 points in the first half, helping the Sabres break a 16-all tie and go on to a 42-29 halftime lead. It was the run that keyed the victory as Marian led the rest of the way. Fellow senior,
Bianca Whittington added three points and three assists in the win, while
Sarah Albert and
Alyssa Pyscher added 13 points apiece. Both seniors were honored prior to introductions.
With the win, Marian improves to 13-11 overall, 9-9 in the NAC and will travel to Benedictine for its NAC Challenge date this Saturday, Feb. 18. The Sabres defeated the Eagles in their first meeting this season in Fond du Lac. Meanwhile, Alverno falls to 8-16 (5-13 NAC) with the loss.
After building as much as a 14-point lead in the second half, the Sabres nearly let it slip away due to turnovers. The Inferno forced 20 Marian miscues that led to 23 points. At the 1:57 mark, the Marian lead was cut to 75-71 after a pair of free throws by Kristen Speerschneider, who finished the contest with a team-high 22 points.
But then, Whittington came down and found Albert in the corner for one of her patented three-pointers to stretch the lead to seven points and propel the Sabres to victory.
The Sabres led by 13 points at halftime, 42-29, thanks to 22 first half tallies by Becker. A 16-all tie was broken with a 10-1 Marian run, in which the first seven points of the rally were scored by Becker. She finished the game 11-for-19 from the field, including 2-for-2 from three and 6-for-12 from the line.
She fell just three points shy of her career-high, which was set last season in a win over Dominican back on Feb. 5, 2011.
Marian out-rebounded the Inferno, 47-36, in the game, garnering 15 offensive boards for 12 second chance points.
The Sabres will travel to Lisle, Ill. this Saturday, Feb. 18, for a NAC Challenge game against Benedictine. Game time is set for 2 p.m.
