Box ScorePELLA, Iowa-- The Wartburg women's basketball team (15-10 overall, 6-8 IIAC) held on to defeat Central (10-15, 1-13) 56-54 Saturday.
The Knights took the 33-32 lead at halftime and built their lead to as much as eight points in the second frame. The score was knotted twice in the second half, including at 51 all with 3:38 to play. The Dutch took the one point lead on a free throw, but the Orange and Black regained the lead on junior Kailey Kladivo's (Traer) layup with 1:43 to go.
Central answered with a layup on its next possession to make the score 54-53 with 1:15 left. Freshman Kristie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) was fouled on her three-point attempt to send her to the free throw line. She made all three shots to give Wartburg the 56-54 lead with nine seconds remaining.
After a missed layup attempt by the Dutch, a Knight was fouled who missed the free throw attempt and Central got the defensive rebound. The Dutch brought the ball up the floor and missed their last-second shot attempt to give the win to the Orange and Black.
Junior Bobbie Burrows (Bondurant) was the team's leading scorer as she had 15 points, which were all treys. Freshman Katie Sommer (Cedar Rapids) joined her in double digits with 13 points.
Wartburg has solidified the No. 5 seed in the Iowa Conferene Tournament and will travel to face Loras Tuesday at 7 p.m.
