WAUKESHA, Wis. - The Blue Devils ground out a gritty 71-61 win over WashU in the opening round of the NCAA tournament Friday night at the Van Male Fieldhouse.
Raegan Sorensen and
Anna Mutch each scored 22 points and Sorensen pulled down 11 rebounds to tally her 14th double-double of the season to lead the Blue Devils.
Amanda Giesen added 13 points, two assists and two steals.
Stout struggled shooting the ball early on, going just 4-15 in the first quarter and trailed 15-10 after ten minutes of play. Stout rallied in the second quarter and tied the game at 21 midway through the second. The game was scoreless for the next three minutes before a Sorensen and-1 layup put Stout up with 2:34 to play before the half. Sorensen scored the last seven Stout points in the quarter and the Blue Devils went into the locker room with a 28-25 advantage. WashU went a run midway through the third quarter and took a 40-36 with 4:21 left to play, Mutch hit back-to-back buckets to draw the Blue Devils even. Giesen then hit a and-1 layup to give Stout the lead back and Stout lead 48-46 heading into the fourth quarter.
Again WashU opened the quarter on a run to take a four-point lead. Giesen scored the next three Stout points and following a
Sydney Brennan steal Sorensen cashed in on the turnover and the lead was back with Stout. Mutch then connected on a three-point play to put Stout up 56-52 with 4:30 left in regulation. Sorensen hit jumpers on two consecutive possessions to maintain the four-point lead. Then with Stout up 60-57
Anna Mutch turned an offensive rebound into a dagger triple and six -point advantage with 2:20 left on the clock.
The Blue Devils then hit free throws in the final minute at WashU tried to extend the game and Stout pulled away to the 71-61 win.
For the game, Stout shot 43.1 percent from the field and scored 21 points off of turnovers.
Anna Mutch now has 1,008 career points.
With the win, Stout advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2006.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will face the winner of the Carroll University-Puget Sound game in the second round of the NCAA DIII National Tournament on Saturday, March 2. Tip-off from the Van Male Fieldhouse is set for 8 p.m.
