SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The17th-ranked Lawrence Technological (Mich.) University (LTU) women's basketball suffered an 82-52 loss to No. 13 Cardinal Stritch (Wis.) University in the first round of the NAIA Division II National Championships. The loss ends the Blue Devils season with a single-season school record of 24 wins.

Lawrence Tech (24-5) opened the game trailing Cardinal Stritch 12-0 as they built a 24-8 lead to end the first quarter. In the second quarter, LTU got some things rolling in as they managed 15 points, but the damage was done as they trailed 47-23 at halftime.

Lawrence Tech was led by Nicole Buckingham (FR/Saginaw, Mich.) and Christina Henry (JR/Lansing, Mich.) with six points each over the first two quarters. The Blue Devils shot just 30.8 percent from the field compared to Cardinal Stritch who finished the half at 60.7 percent from the field.

LTU played evenly with the Wolves in the third quarter as they matched them 17-17, but trailed 64-40 to open the fourth quarter. The Blue Devils weren't able to mount a comeback in the fourth as Cardinal Stritch went on to win 82-52 to move on to the next round.

The Blue Devils were led by Hali Butler (SR/Fairport Harbor, OH) with 13 points and Hayley Walkowski (SO/Marshall, MI) with 10. Autumn Whirley (FR/Eaton, Ohio) added seven points with Allison Kitchen (JR/Clio, MI) and Nicole Buckingham adding six points each.

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