Advertisement
Wahl was excited to see a few of her former UW-La Crosse women’s basketball teammates, who were in town for Alumni Day and to watch the Eagles’ game against UW-Oshkosh. She was equally pumped about the time she would get to spend with them later that night.
The fact Wahl, a 6-foot-1 junior forward, scored a career-high 25 points in UW-L’s 60-40 WIAC victory was a nice surprise. But to be honest, Wahl couldn’t wait to relive old times with the likes of Katy (Searing) Werner, Nicole Palmer and Abby Johnson — all of whom were Wahl’s teammates last season.
“It was good to see all of them. I can’t wait to hang out with them,” Wahl said. “I know they’re happy for me.”
They certainly aren’t the only ones. Count UW-L coach Lois Heeren among those who are pleased to see Wahl succeeding.
Wahl, who missed the 2005-06 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament, is the Eagles’ second-leading scorer at 10.9 points a game. She’s scored in double digits in four of UW-L’s last seven games, a stretch in which the Eagles (8-8, 3-4) have gone 5-2.
“Since Christmas she’s really starting get into her own game. She understands what she needs to do,” Heeren said. “She’s so strong down low. She understands what shots she needs to take. She’s starting to elevate her game more, and we’re going to need that in the second half (of UW-L’s WIAC schedule).”
Wahl showed she was ready for the Eagles’ last nine regular-season games. She went 8-for-9 from the floor, and 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. Wahl entered Saturday’s game shooting 52 percent (49-for-95) from the floor, and 67 percent (52-for-78) from the line.
Wahl scored four points during a 16-2 run that gave UW-L a 30-17 halftime lead. She scored seven of UW-L’s first nine points of the second half as the Eagles pulled away from Oshkosh (7-10, 2-6).
“Lindsay was ripping through their defense and finishing her shots,” said UW-L junior forward Mackenzie Hunter, who added 16 points.
UW-La Crosse 60,
UW-Oshkosh 40
OSHKOSH (7-10, 2-6)
Pugh 1-2 0-0 3, Hebl 0-2 0-0 0, Baganz 5-12 1-2 12, Tyriver 5-9 0-0 13, Boeder 0-5 0-0 0, Ebbens 0-5 0-0 0, Aubry 2-5 0-0 4, Bird 0-2 0-0 0, Abitz 1-3 0-1 2, Green 0-0 0-0 0, Baehman 1-3 0-0 2, Ketterhagen 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 17-50 1-3 40.
UW-L (8-8, 3-4)
Wagner 1-5 0-0 2, Hunter 6-13 2-2 16, Stevens 1-5 0-0 3, Churchill 1-5 2-2 4, Wahl 8-9 9-10 25, Kramschuster 0-0 0-0 0, Larson 0-0 0-0 0, Waldvogel 1-8 0-0 3, Halat 2-7 1-1 5, Litrenta 0-0 0-0 0, H. Lang 0-0 0-0 0, Petersen 0-0 0-0 0, Spaude 0-0 0-0 0, Marjanovic 1-1 0-0 2, M. Lang 0-2 0-0 0, Punzel 0-0 0-0 0, McGinnity 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-55 14-15 60.
Halftime—UW-L 30, Oshkosh 17. 3-Point Goals—Oshkosh 5-15 (Tyriver 3-3, Baganz 1-4, Pugh 1-2, Boeder 0-3, Aubry 0-2, Bird 0-1), UW-L 4-7 (Hunter 2-3, Waldvogel 1-2, Stevens 1-1, Churchill 0-1). Rebounds—Oshkosh 30 (Baganz 7), UW-L 39 (Halat 10). Assists—Oshkosh 9 (Baganz, Ebbens, Hebl 2), UW-L 11 (Wagner 6). Total fouls—Oshkosh 14, UW-L 11. Fouled out—None. Turnovers—Oshkosh 18, UW-L 13. A—250.
