WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State women's basketball team opened their 2025-26 season with an exhibition game against Viterbo University, an NAIA school in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC), winning 86-60.
The Warriors got off to a hot start, scoring the first 20 points of the game and never looked back as Winona State's veterans helped lead the team to a victory.
How it Happened:
With a load of new players on this year's Winona State roster, head coach
Ana Wurtz got to showcase a first look of the team. The Warriors controlled both ends of the court from the tipoff, cruising to a 20-0 lead and a couple of three-point shots from new transfer
Breah Golden.
The score got as high as 29-3 in the first quarter and the foot was never taken off the gas pedal for the Warriors, going into halftime with a 46-29 lead. WSU was led by
Megan Schuman, who shot 8-12 from the field and nearly secured a double double with 8 rebounds.
Winona State would dominate the court in the third and fourth period, never letting the score get closer than 17 points while still subbing in most of their lineup. The Warriors outscored VU in every quarter except the second and would finish the game with a score of 86-60.
Statistical Comparison:
- The Warriors out shot the V-Hawks, going 31-68 (45.6%) compared to 18-57 (31.6%).
- The Warriors dominated the glass securing 48 total rebounds while Viterbo totaled 33.
- Winona State shot an electric 11-28 (39.3%) from three while Viterbo shot 9-27 (33.3%).
- Schuman (20), Golden (25), and Vivica Bretton (10) were all the Warrior players to score double digits.
- Lydia Lakanen led the team and match in rebounds with 10 while also scoring seven points.
- Hailey Markworth, although not scoring on the night, helped her team by chipping in eight assists and seven rebounds.
- Viterbo was led by Lauren Goettl who scored 15 points on 5-8 shooting.
Winona State will begin regular season play on Friday, November 14 at 7:30pm when they face off against Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Winona, Minn.
