MONROE — Despite just a seven-point deficit at halftime, Monroe fell to Wisconsin Heights 54-29 in a nonconference game on Tuesday, Nov. 28. The Division 4 Vanguards outscored the Division 2 Cheesemakers 27-9 in the second half.

Wisconsin Heights jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first four minutes as Monroe committed four team fouls, with Abbey Matley accounting for two of them.

Sophie Golembiewski put the Cheesemakers on the board on an inbounds pass from Brinley Roidt. The Vanguards’ Mikayla Teela then single-handedly extended her team’s lead to nearly 10 points. She drove to the basket for a layup, stole the subsequent inbounds pass and scored two more. On the opposite end, she grabbed a loose ball and brought it all the way back for an 11-2 lead.

Golembiewski responded, having a hand in the next seven Cheesemaker points. Following a free throw from Wisconsin Heights’ Jocelyn Brabender, Golembiewski fed Matley for two. On the next possession, Alexis Gertsch scored on a fast break with an assist from Golembiewski. She then drained a 3-pointer from the left side, as her defender gave her too much space.

Monroe got within five, 15-10, with Gertsch’s 1-for-3 trip to the free-throw line. The rest of the half remained tight, as the two teams traded points back and forth. Wisconsin Heights scored most of its points at the charity stripe, though, as Golembiewski and Delaney Fortney picked up their third fouls in the first frame.

The Vanguards held for the last possession, which lasted a full minute thanks to three offensive rebounds. Wisconsin Heights was unable to cash in on the opportunity, though, and took a 27-20 lead into the locker room.

Although they trailed by just seven points, the Cheesemakers came out flat in the second half. They scored just nine points, all from 3-point range.

With subs in for the final minutes, Sophie Conway drained the final three with 53 seconds left in the game.

Monroe was unable to gain much offensive momentum, as Golembiewski picked up her fourth foul four minutes into the new frame. She sat on the bench for four minutes while Wisconsin Heights scored 13 points.

Golembiewski led Monroe with eight points and two assists. She also grabbed four rebounds. Leuzinger was the second highest scorer with six points, all from 3-point range. Gertsch grabbed a team-best five rebounds, while Matley added four.

Monroe bested Wisconsin Heights in just two statistical categories — deflections (9-6) and fouls (13-14). The Cheesemakers attempted 22 threes, making six. Overall, they shot 24.4% from the field. The biggest difference in the game, though, came on turnovers. Monroe committed 26 turnovers, from which Wisconsin Heights scored 23 points.

Monroe began its conference season with a game against Whitewater on Thursday, Nov. 30. Results from the game will be included in the Wednesday, Dec. 6 edition of the Times.