MADISON - Monroe High School sophomore Emily Benzschawel scored a game-high 16 points, but Madison Edgewood's defense and free-throw shooting late were too much to overcome and the Crusaders topped the Cheesemakers 54-47 Thursday.
Edgewood (18-3, 10-2) forced a three-way tie for the Badger South Conference championship with Monroe (17-3, 10-2) and Stoughton (19-3, 10-2). Stoughton rallied to beat Oregon 61-54 on Thursday night. It is Monroe's first conference title since 2010.
"I think if you would have told us at the beginning of the year that we would win 10 conference games and get a share of the conference championship we would have jumped at it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They (Monroe players) were disappointed getting a share. They earned a share and that is something they can never take away."
Edgewood senior Estella Moschkau, a Stanford recruit, scored a team-high 15 points. However, the Crusaders had balanced scoring with junior Caitlin Link, senior Katie Meriggioli and senior Brita Hovde each adding 10 points. The win was Edgewood's 13th straight.
"We knew coming in they were on a roll, and we would have our hands full," Mathiason said.
Late in the second half, the Cheesemakers came back from a six-point deficit. Benzschawel knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Crusaders' lead to 42-39 with 5 minutes, 40 seconds left. Edgewood senior Katie Meriggioli then hit a jumper to extend the Crusaders' lead to five points.
Benzschawel converted a three-point play to cut the Crusaders' lead to 44-42 with 2:45 to go. Meriggioli answered by driving down the middle of the Cheesemakers' defense for a layup. Monroe senior Lexi Hilliard hit a 3-pointer to cut the Crusaders' lead to 48-45 with 2:03 to go.
After holding the ball for more than a minute, Meriggioli was fouled and made two free throws with 56 seconds to go to give the Crusaders a five-point lead. The Crusaders were 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 56 seconds to seal the win.
"Edgewood plays really good defense," Mathiason said. "We knew coming in they do a really good job closing the gaps. We have to work a little harder cutting to open up space for the next person. We got it to three points, and we just needed a couple of baskets. Edgewood did a really good job of making their free throws."
Early on, the game had the makings of one that would go down to the wire like the previous meeting Nov. 22 when the Cheesemakers beat the Crusaders 75-66 in double overtime.
Meriggioli hit a 3-pointer Thursday and Hovde made a layup to give the Crusaders a 23-13 lead. Hovde scored eight of her 10 points in the first half to give the Crusaders a spark. The Cheesemakers battled back. Benzschawel drilled a 3-pointer and sophomore Sydney Hilliard knocked down a jumper to slice the Crusaders' lead to 27-22 at the half.
The Cheesemakers started the second half strong with junior Sydney Mathiason hitting a jumper to cut the Crusaders' lead to 27-24.
The Crusaders limited the Cheesemakers from scoring many fastbreak points.
Sydney Hilliard added 10 points for Monroe, and her older sister, Lexi, chipped in six points.
Edgewood (18-3, 10-2) forced a three-way tie for the Badger South Conference championship with Monroe (17-3, 10-2) and Stoughton (19-3, 10-2). Stoughton rallied to beat Oregon 61-54 on Thursday night. It is Monroe's first conference title since 2010.
"I think if you would have told us at the beginning of the year that we would win 10 conference games and get a share of the conference championship we would have jumped at it," Monroe coach Sam Mathiason said. "They (Monroe players) were disappointed getting a share. They earned a share and that is something they can never take away."
Edgewood senior Estella Moschkau, a Stanford recruit, scored a team-high 15 points. However, the Crusaders had balanced scoring with junior Caitlin Link, senior Katie Meriggioli and senior Brita Hovde each adding 10 points. The win was Edgewood's 13th straight.
"We knew coming in they were on a roll, and we would have our hands full," Mathiason said.
Late in the second half, the Cheesemakers came back from a six-point deficit. Benzschawel knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Crusaders' lead to 42-39 with 5 minutes, 40 seconds left. Edgewood senior Katie Meriggioli then hit a jumper to extend the Crusaders' lead to five points.
Benzschawel converted a three-point play to cut the Crusaders' lead to 44-42 with 2:45 to go. Meriggioli answered by driving down the middle of the Cheesemakers' defense for a layup. Monroe senior Lexi Hilliard hit a 3-pointer to cut the Crusaders' lead to 48-45 with 2:03 to go.
After holding the ball for more than a minute, Meriggioli was fouled and made two free throws with 56 seconds to go to give the Crusaders a five-point lead. The Crusaders were 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final 56 seconds to seal the win.
"Edgewood plays really good defense," Mathiason said. "We knew coming in they do a really good job closing the gaps. We have to work a little harder cutting to open up space for the next person. We got it to three points, and we just needed a couple of baskets. Edgewood did a really good job of making their free throws."
Early on, the game had the makings of one that would go down to the wire like the previous meeting Nov. 22 when the Cheesemakers beat the Crusaders 75-66 in double overtime.
Meriggioli hit a 3-pointer Thursday and Hovde made a layup to give the Crusaders a 23-13 lead. Hovde scored eight of her 10 points in the first half to give the Crusaders a spark. The Cheesemakers battled back. Benzschawel drilled a 3-pointer and sophomore Sydney Hilliard knocked down a jumper to slice the Crusaders' lead to 27-22 at the half.
The Cheesemakers started the second half strong with junior Sydney Mathiason hitting a jumper to cut the Crusaders' lead to 27-24.
The Crusaders limited the Cheesemakers from scoring many fastbreak points.
Sydney Hilliard added 10 points for Monroe, and her older sister, Lexi, chipped in six points.
