WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State women's basketball team handled Concordia University - Wisconsin, 68-40 in their home opener. The Warriors scored 32 points in the paint and 17 points off Falcon turnovers to pull away for the 28 point victory.
 
The Warriors started the game with jumpers from Tara Roelofs and Hannah McGlone, and three-pointers from Liz Evenocheck and Jenny Tuttle as they were able to build a 10-4 lead. Kali Hackmann would hit all four of her free throws in the first quarter to add to the lead. A layup from Jenny Weiland would give the Warriors the eight-point lead at 18-10 to end the first quarter.
 
The second quarter would open with a layup from Kayla Timmerman. The Warriors were able to hold the Falcons to just seven points in the second quarter, while they continued to pad their lead. Evenocheck would contribute two, three-pointers and Roelofs would close out the half with a jumper to make the score 38-17.
 
Late in the third quarter the Warriors would turn up the heat on the defensive end of the court. Trading baskets with the Falcons, the Warriors would edge them out in scoring by just three. Despite the close scoring in the quarter, the Warriors managed to increase their lead to 53-29. The fourth quarter was much like the third in that, the Warriors held their comfortable lead and finished the game up 68-40.
 
The Warriors shot 47 percent from the field and 54 percent from behind the arc. Evenocheck's was 3-for-3 on the night from distance. Winona State, last year's NCAA leader in free throw percentage, found their form Tuesday, hitting ten of their 11 opportunities at the stripe.
 
The Falcons shot 31 percent from the field and just 14 percent from behind the arc. The Warriors defense held them in check with pressure defense, resulting in a low shooting percentage and 17 turnovers by CUW.
 
Tara Roelofs led the scoring attack for the Warriors with 15 points as she shot 50 percent from the field and had five assists. Evenocheck added nine with her three, three's and Weiland added eight points and grabbed a team-high, seven rebounds.
 
The Warriors (5-1) will be back in action Saturday November 26^th as they open conference play against Upper Iowa at home at 4 p.m.