The Lourdes defense limited to Northwestern Ohio to just 38.9% shooting and forced 20 turnovers on Wednesday evening as the Gray Wolves extended its winning streak to 11 consecutive games with a 72-58 victory over the Racers inside the Russell J. Ebeid Recreation Center.
 
The 14^th-ranked Gray Wolves also limited the Racers to just three offensive rebounds in the contest, holding a 41-35 edge on the glass.
 
"This was a good win," head coach Dennis Hopson said afterwards.  "We didn't shoot the ball well but we're changing our defense up and I'm happy with the defensive energy.  We scored 26 points off of 20 turnovers which is a good thing."
 
Nick Welch (Temperance, Mich./Saint Mary Catholic Central H.S.) scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Lourdes had four players finish in double figures.  Kenny Coleman (Toledo, Ohio/Saint Francis de Sales H.S.) and McRay White (Cleveland, Ohio/Garfield Heights H.S.) each had 11 points while Clif Snow (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown H.S.) added 10 points.
 
The Gray Wolves scored the game's first six points before Northwestern Ohio tied the game at eight.  The Racers eventually took a 13-12 lead at the 11:44 mark of the first half, but Lourdes defense then held the visitors without a field goal for the next eight minutes, taking the lead for good with a 14-1 run.  Northwestern Ohio was then able to pull within nine, 28-19, at halftime.
 
With Lourdes leading 30-23 with 16:45 to play in the game, the Gray Wolves scored the next six points to extend the lead back to 13.  Back-to-back three-pointers by the Racers helped pull Northwestern Ohio to within six, 38-32, with 13 minutes to play, but another 7-0 spurt pushed the Lourdes lead back to double digits, where it would stay the remainder of the game.
 
Lourdes made 17 free throws, all in the second half, to secure the victory.
 
The Gray Wolves committed just 11 turnovers and shot 40.3% from the floor, but made just 5-of-28 (17.9%) three-point attempts.
 
Elijah Pughsley led Northwestern Ohio (3-14, 0-8 WHAC) with 21 points while Nathan Lessing added 18 more.
 
Lourdes (14-3, 8-1) remains in first place alone in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference.  The Gray Wolves take to the road on Saturday afternoon, heading to Rochester Hills, Mich. to battle Rochester.  Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. inside of Garth Pleasant Arena.