Joseph Vanden Acker

Author: Joseph Vanden Acker

Vikings battle to tight victory at Beloit

BELOIT, Wis. — The Lawrence University men’s basketball team led for the final 38 minutes Saturday, but the Vikings had to hold off Beloit College in a nail-biting 62-58 Midwest Conference victory at Flood Arena.

Lawrence never led by more than eight points and saw its lead cut to one in the final minute. The Vikings went 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 48 seconds to secure the victory.

Rookie guard Quinn Fisher came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points for the Vikings (7-7, 7-3 MWC). Lawrence’s Jeremy Stephani hit a trio of 3-pointers on his way to 17 points, and he grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.

Carlton Henning posted a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds to pace Beloit (4-11, 2-8).

Beloit scored the first basket of the game, and Stephani gave Lawrence the lead for good with a 3-pointer with 18:09 left in the opening half. Lawrence led by as many as eight points three times in the first half and settled for a 37-31 lead at the break.

Lawrence led 47-40 on Fisher’s 3-pointer with 11:09 remaining, but Beloit chipped away at the advantage. The Bucs went on an 8-2 run to trim the margin to 49-48, but Pete Winslow and Evan McLaughlin countered with jumpers for the Vikings to push the lead to 53-48.

The Vikings led 56-52 before Cody Risseeuw hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left.

The Bucs fouled Ben Peterson, who made both free throws with 23 seconds remaining for a 58-55 lead. Beloit’s Mike Gulve made one free throw with 10 seconds left to cut the lead to 58-56, and the Bucs then fouled Stephani.

Stephani made both free throws with eight seconds left to move the lead back to 60-56. After Mike Noyce’s layup with three seconds left cut the lead back to 60-58, the Bucs fouled Fisher, who made both free throws to finally seal the win.

Box score

Beloit pulls away from Vikings

BELOIT, Wis. — The Beloit College women’s basketball team steadily pulled away and scored a 73-39 Midwest Conference victory over Lawrence University on Saturday at Flood Arena.

Shelby Kline scored 19 points to lead three Beloit player in double figures.

Freshman Shonell Benjamin led Lawrence with eight points and pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

The game was tied 7-7 early when the Bucs (3-12, 1-9) started to run away. Beloit went on an 18-2 run, capped by a pair of Tegan Rock free throws, to lead 25-9. Lawrence got baskets from Lauren Deveikis and Benjamin and a pair of free throws from Natalie Kramer to trim the lead to 28-15 at the half.

Beloit scored the first seven points of the second half to push the lead to 35-15. Lawrence chipped away at the lead and scored five consecutive points to cut the margin to 43-30 with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

The Bucs countered with an 8-1 run to build a 51-31 advantage. Lawrence didn’t get closer than 18 points after that.

The Vikings’ leading scorer, Leah Reeves, was limited to 12 minutes due to injury.

Box score

Big second period leads Saints to win over Lawrence

DULUTH, Minn. — St. Scholastica scored four times in the second period Friday to take control and went on to a 7-2 Northern Collegiate Hockey Association victory over Lawrence University at Mars Lakeview Arena.

The Saints (9-6-1, 7-3-1 NCHA) trailed 2-1 after the first period but didn’t allow another goal the rest of the way. Lawrence (5-9-2, 4-5-2) allowed 49 shots on goal while managing just 21.

The Vikings jumped on the board early as Sean Reynolds just 1:44 into the game off assists from Mikkel Joehnk and Matt Beranek. The Saints tied it on Derek Sutliffe’s power-play goal at the 10:31 mark of the first and would go on to finish 3-for-7 on the power play.

Lawrence took the lead back as Lane King scored on the power play with 3:59 left in the first period with assists from Josh Koepplinger and Nick Felan. Lawrence went 1-for-3 on the man-advantage.

St. Scholastica put together a flurry of three goals in a span of just 1:34 early in the second period. Brett Radford, Cole Golka and Mike Nolan all scored to give the Saints a 4-2 lead. Steven Phee added a power-play goal midway through the period for a 5-2 edge.

The Saints added two more tallies in the third to round out the scoring.

Mattias Soderqvist made the start in goal for the Vikings and allowed four goals while making 22 saves. Evan Cline came on in relief and stopped 20 shots while allowing the final three goals. Zane Steeves stopped 19 shots to pick up the win for St. Scholastica.

The teams wrap up the series on Saturday evening.

Box score

Late run lifts Lake Forest over Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — A late scoring run Wednesday pushed the Lake Forest College men’s basketball team to the lead, and the Foresters went on to a 66-53 Midwest Conference win over Lawrence University at Alexander Gymnasium.

With the game tied, the Foresters scored 10 consecutive points, and Lawrence never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Mitch Willer scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Lawrence (6-7, 6-3 MWC). Jeremy Stephani added 14 points for the Vikings, and Eric Weiss chipped in with a game-high five assists.

Mike Rueffer led Lake Forest (8-7, 6-3) with 17 points and 11 of those came at the foul line. Lake Forest went 19-for-27 from the line, compared to 3-for-10 for the Vikings.

Lake Forest led by as many as seven points early in the second half, but the Vikings chipped away and tied it at 44-44 on Evan McLaughlin’s first career 3-pointer. The teams traded baskets, and Stephani’s layup tied the game for the fifth time at 46-46.

Danny Sotos’ three-point play then got the decisive run started for Lake Forest. Sotos followed with two more free throws, and Rueffer hit a 3-pointer. Sotos’ layup finished the run and put Lake Forest up 56-46 with 4:58 remaining.

Weiss’ layup stopped the run and trimmed the margin to 48-56, but the Vikings couldn’t close the gap as their next two 3-pointers rimmed in and out. Lawrence went just 4-for-21 from beyond the arc.

A pair of Stephani free throws cut the lead to 57-50, but Lake Forest went 9-for-10 from the foul line in the final 1:31 to seal the victory.

Box score

Big second quarter pushes Lake Forest past Vikings

APPLETON, Wis. — The Lawrence University women’s basketball team got off to a strong start Wednesday, but Lake Forest College put together a big second quarter and went on to a 61-39 Midwest Conference win at Alexander Gymnasium.

Lawrence led 17-15 after one quarter, but the Foresters scored the first 13 points of the second quarter and pulled away in the second half.

Leah Reeves scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds to pace Lawrence (2-12, 0-9 MWC). Lauren Deveikis added 11 points for the Vikings, and Aubrey Scott had a game-high four assists.

Bridget Bilek led Lake Forest (4-10, 3-6) with 17 points. Kelsey Schmitt added 12 points off the bench, and Brie Majkowski had 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

Lawrence trailed by six early, but the Vikings scored seven consecutive points, including three by Reeves, to grab a 9-8 lead. The game was tied four times after that in the quarter, and Shonell Benjamin’s layup with 15 seconds left gave the Vikings a 17-15 lead after one. It marked just the second time this season Lawrence had led after one quarter.

Seven different players scored for Lake Forest as the Foresters went on a 13-0 run to open the second quarter. Reeves’ layup finally stopped the run, but Lake Forest led 28-19 with 3:02 left in the half. The Foresters pushed the lead back to 12, but Reeves got a layup at the buzzer to trim the margin to 31-21 at the half.

The Vikings jumped on Lake Forest to start the third quarter. Deveikis hit a jumper and Reeves added two more jumpers as part of a 7-0 run that cut the lead to 31-28.

After Deveikis’ 3-pointer cut the lead to 35-31 after in the quarter, the Foresters scored the final 11 points of the third to pull away. Schmitt scored five and Bilek added four during the run to give Lake Forest a 46-31 lead after three quarters.

Lake Forest steadily pulled away from there and led by as many as 24 points in the fourth.

Box score

Hockey series preview: Lawrence at St. Scholastica

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University heads to Duluth, Minn., for a key Northern Collegiate Hockey Association series at the College of St. Scholastica this weekend. The Vikings and Saints are battling for playoff spots from the league’s North Division and just three points separate the two teams. Friday’s game is at 7 p.m., and Saturday the puck drops at 5 p.m.

Preview

Winslow’s hot shooting earns MWC Player of the Week award

Pete Winslow

APPLETON, Wis. — Lawrence University men’s basketball standout Pete Winslow put together a hot shooting weekend and earned Midwest Conference Player of the Week honors.

Winslow (Evanston, Ill./Evanston Township), a senior guard/forward, shot a blistering 76.9 percent from 3-point range to lead Lawrence to a pair of Midwest Conference victories. This is the first time Winslow has been honored, and the first time a Lawrence player has been selected this season.

Winslow went 10-for-13 from beyond the arc and hit a career-high five 3-pointers in both games as Lawrence defeated Cornell College and Illinois College. Winslow had never made more than three 3-pointers in a game.

In a 60-56 win over Cornell, Winslow went 5-for-6 on 3-pointers and finished 7-for-10 overall on his way to 19 points. He also added five rebounds and a steal against the Rams.

In a 63-54 win over Illinois College, Winslow was 5-for-7 on 3-pointers and 6-for-10 overall as he scored 17 points. Winslow added five rebounds, one assist and one steal against the Blueboys.

For the week, Winslow averaged 18 points and five rebounds per game while shooting 65 percent from the floor.

Lawrence (6-6, 6-2 MWC), winners of four straight, returns to action on Wednesday when the Vikings host Lake Forest College at Alexander Gymnasium.

The Week Ahead: January 16-22

APPLETON, Wis. — The Vikings will all be on the road this weekend as the teams get deep into the heart of the winter season. Lawrence University basketball hosts Lake Forest College on Wednesday, and the Vikings then travel to Beloit College on Saturday. Lawrence hockey travels north to St. Scholastica for a big Northern Collegiate Hockey Association series this weekend. The Lawrence swimmers get a preview of a Midwest Conference heavyweight when the Vikings travel to Lake Forest College on Saturday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2-11, 0-8 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Lake Forest (3-10, 2-6 MWC)

When and Where: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 5:30 p.m., Alexander Gymnasium.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Lake Forest

The Series: Lake Forest leads the series, which started in the 1975-76 season, 49-13. The Foresters have won 18 straight over the Vikings.

Opponent: Lawrence at Beloit (2-11, 0-8 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m., Flood Arena, Beloit, Wis.

Webcast: Lawrence at Beloit

The Series: Beloit leads the series 36-28 and has won the last 16 meetings with Lawrence. Prior to the current streak by Beloit, the Vikings had won six straight and 16 of 18.

Fast Fact: Rookie Liesl Hostetter scored her first career point in the game against Illinois College.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (6-6, 6-2 MWC)

Opponent: Lawrence vs. Lake Forest (7-6, 5-3 MWC)

When and Where: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:30 p.m., Alexander Gymnasium.

Webcast: Lawrence vs. Lake Forest

The Series: Lawrence holds a 58-50 edge in a series that dates back to the 1915-16 season. The Vikings have a 9-7 advantage over Lake Forest during the tenure of head coach Joel DePagter.

Opponent: Lawrence at Beloit (4-9, 2-6 MWC)

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 21, 3 p.m., Alexander Gymnasium

Webcast: Lawrence at Beloit

The Series: In a series that started during the winter of 1911-12, Beloit holds a 101-74 advantage. Lawrence has had the better of the rivalry over the past 15 years. Lawrence has won 23 of the last 27 and included in that record is a 16-game Vikings’ win streak.

Fast Fact: Senior forward Pete Winslow might still be smoldering because he was on fire over the weekend. Winslow went 10-for-13 from 3-point range for a blistering 76.9 percent. Winslow went 5-for-6 on 3-pointers in the win over Cornell and was 5-for-7 in the victory over Illinois College.

HOCKEY (5-8-2, 4-4-2 NCHA)

Opponent: Lawrence at St. Scholastica (8-6-1, 6-3-1 NCHA)

When and Where: Friday, Jan. 20, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 21, 5 p.m., Mars Lakeview Arena, Duluth, Minn.

Webcast: Lawrence at St. Scholastica

The Series: St. Scholastica holds a 13-2-1 advantage in a series that started in the 2001-02 season. The Saints have won the last five meetings, and Lawrence’s last victory was a 3-2 win in the 2013-14 campaign.

Fast Fact: Lawrence forward Nick Felan broke a four-game scoreless streak in a big way this past weekend at Aurora. Felan assisted on both goals in Friday’s overtime tie and then scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, in Lawrence’s 5-3 victory on Saturday.

SWIMMING

Opponent: Lawrence at Lake Forest Triangular (Lake Forest, UW-Whitewater)

When and Where: Saturday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m., Sports and Recreation Center, Lake Forest, Ill.

Webcast: None.

Fast Fact: The Vikings had their final home meet of the season this past Saturday and paid tribute to five seniors taking part in their final competition at Boldt Natatorium.