Raiders Take Red Rivalry Cup From Inferno

MILWAUKEE -- A 15-0 first-half run by the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders gave the host the lead for good as the Alverno College Inferno lost, 69-57, in the second-annual Red Rivalry Game between the two Northern Athletics Conference and crosstown rivals tonight in the Kern Center.

The Raiders (11-5, 7-2 NAC) take the travelling trophy from the Inferno (5-11, 2-8), who won the inaugural game last season in Reiman Gymnasium.

A 3-pointer by Alyssa Jensen (Cudahy, Wis.) gave the Inferno a 8-4 lead, but three-straight turnovers were converted into eight-straight points by the Raiders for an 11-8 lead with 13:49 to play in the first.

The Inferno would regain the lead on a pair of free throws by Alicia Kontowski (South Milwaukee, Wis.) and increase the lead to 22-17, but the Raiders would counter with a 15-0 run for a 32-22 advantage.

Alverno would finally answer as Kontowski scored the Inferno's final seven points of the half, but the team managed to shoot just 29 percent from the field in the opening period for the nine-point, 36-27, halftime deficit.

The Inferno opened the second half on a 9-1 run to cut the deficit to a single point, but the Raiders never relinquished the lead and held on for the victory.

Kontowski set a new career high with 23 points as she shot 6-of-12 from the floor and 10-of-15 from the free-throw line to lead a trio of Inferno players in double figures. Kristen Speerschneider (New Franken, Wis./Luxemburg-Casco) scored 11 and Amber Meka (Caledonia, Wis./Thomas More) added 10.

Additionally, Kontowski led the Inferno with a team-high seven rebounds, but the Inferno were bested on the glass 47-33, including 22-9 on the offensive side. The Raiders scored 17 second-chance points, while the Inferno had just eight.

Alverno will look to snap its three-game skid on Tuesday night at Lakeland College. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. in Woltzen Gymnasium.

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