Alverno College

MILWAUKEE – The Alverno basketball team finished up the road portion of its 2019-20 slate with a short visit to the Kern Center and host Milwaukee School of Engineering. After building up a 34-21 halftime lead, it was a big second-half effort by the Raiders to come away with the 58-51 win over the Inferno.
 
During the game freshman Eniya Madden, who came into the game trailing the single-season steals record by one, registered three steals to become the single-season leader and now has 73 on the season. The previous mark was held by Kristen Speerschneider '12, who had 71 during the 2013-14 campaign. Speerschneider holds the program record with 219 steals during her four-year hall-of-fame career with the Inferno.
 
Madden led the team in scoring despite playing a season-low 30 minutes because of third quarter foul trouble, as she registered 21 of the team's 51 points on the afternoon while also leading the team with four assists and three steals.
 
Junior Alicia Hornbuckle had nine points, and was tied for the team lead with three steals as she also collected three assists and five rebounds on the game. Freshman Keeshya Bellows had a nine-point performance and also led the Inferno with nine rebounds while also chipping in with three assists.
 
Senior Sara Redlin connected on three mid-range shots as she collected six points. Junior Dom Hudson had five rebounds and two assists to round out the starting lineup. Junior Mikayla Tessay, sophomore Brittney Hondel, and freshman Angie Reutgen all had one from the floor for two points apiece. Hondel had one steal, while Tessay had one rebound and Reutgen had one assist.
 
After a close five-point battle on December 3 inside Reiman Gymnasium, the Inferno and Raiders were locked in an evenly-contested matchup during the first quarter. Alverno had built up an early 7-0 lead before the Raiders chipped away and took a three-point lead of their own at 10-7. Madden ended the MSOE run with a layup before Bellows gave Alverno the lead again.
 
The Inferno entered the second quarter leading by a 13-12 score and outscored their hosts by a 21-9 margin in the second quarter to take a 34-21 halftime lead. Alverno led by a 32-21 score following the 11th point of the quarter by Madden. Tessay capped off the scoring in the half to put the Inferno ahead 34-21 heading into the intermission.
 
Redlin opened the scoring in the second half with a jumper just over a minute into the period before a 14-0 run by the Raiders pulled MSOE back within one at 36-35. A clutch jumper by Reutgen put an end to the Inferno drought before Hornbuckle connected on a jumper to give Alverno a five-point lead with 1:05 to go. However, MSOE scored the five points of the stanza to knot the score at 40 heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
 
As play moved ahead into the fourth quarter, it was the Raiders to storm out of the gate with an 8-2 run to take a six-point advantage. Hondel connected on a layup with 3:19 to go to make the score 51-48 and a one-possession game once again before MSOE responded with a quick layup. Ultimately it was the Raiders to pull away late with free throws to escape with the 58-51 win.
 
Alverno (5-19, 5-14 NACC) will be back home for the final game of the season on Wednesday evening, when the Wisconsin Lutheran Warriors make their way to Reiman Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tip.