MILWAUKEE -- Alverno College held their opponents to under 25 percent shooting in the second half for the second consecutive game, claiming another Northern Athletics Conference victory in Reiman Gymnasium. The Inferno (5-8, 3-4 NAC) pulled out the 54-49 victory over visiting MSOE (5-7, 4-3 NAC) for their second consecutive win overall, and second in conference.

"It's not like we're shocking the world," Alverno head coach Brad Duckworth said. "We're not a terrible basketball team. I think more of the shock was how we got to 3-8, we're a better basketball team than 3-8, and I think that that's more shocking than winning two conference games in our gym."

The Inferno trailed 29-26 at halftime, leading only twice briefly in the period. The main difference between the teams at intermission was MSOE's hot shooting from outside. The Raiders shot nearly 40 percent (5-of-13) from the 3-point arc, while the Inferno were 0-of-3 from downtown.

What proved to be the difference in the second half, and eventually the game, was Alverno's inside scoring, control on the boards and free throw shooting down the stretch.

Alverno outscored the Raiders 30-6 in the paint, and outrebounded the visitors 47-31, including 18-10 on the offensive glass.

The Inferno shot 76.5 percent (13-of-17) from the free-throw line--the second straight game over 70 percent--and made 6-of-8 from the charity stripe in the final minute of the game to ice the win.

Freshman center Rachel Diedrich (Two Rivers, Wis.) and junior guard Shataya McComb (Kingston, N.Y.) led the Inferno with 10 and nine rebounds respectively, while junior guard Gabby Allen (Milwaukee, Wis./Bay View) and senior guard Lisa Sorgi (Milwaukee, Wis./Greenfield) snagged seven and six boards.

Allen led Alverno in scoring with 17 points on 8-of-18 shooting and had a game-high four steals. Sorgi (14 points) and Diedrich (11 points) also hit double figures in the win.

McComb had a team-high three assists for the Inferno as well.

Dana Guthrie (St. Louis, Mo.) led the Raiders with 14 points and a game-high five assists, while Carol Cayo (Lake Mills, Wis.) had a game-high 14 rebounds and six blocks.

Alverno is next in action this Saturday travelling to Lakeland College for a 4 p.m. start. The Muskies are currently undefeated (6-0) in NAC play and 10-2 overall.