WAVERLY - The No. 7-ranked Wartburg women's basketball team earned a 67-60 victory over No. 11 UW-La Crosse Monday afternoon during the Holiday Tournament Championship game, earning a third-straight tournament title as hosts of the Wartburg College Holiday Tournament. 

During the first half of the game, the Knights and Eagles were neck-in-neck scoring, heading into the locker room with the score tied at 27-27.

Two good layups by Emma Gerdes in the second half gave the Orange & Black an early four-point lead. UW-La Crosse responded at the 7:15-minute mark taking a one point lead after a good three-pointer. A layup by Payton Draper with 2:15 left in the third gave Wartburg a nine-point advantage to end the quarter.

The Eagles brought the game back within five points with just under a minute left, but Wartburg took the final seven-point win after Gerdes notched two free throws with just 10 seconds left.

Gerdes led the Orange and Black with 14 points and seven assists. Payton Draper tallied 12 points while Amanda Brainerd and Tori Hazard each scored 10 points, with Hazard totaling a team-high seven rebounds. 

Four other Knights scored with 15 points coming from the bench. Wartburg shot 20-of-47 from the field and 20-27 from the free throw line.

Gerdes and Hazard earned All-Tournament Team honors, while Gerdes was named Tournament MVP. 

Wartburg, now 11-1 overall, heads back into American Rivers Conference action versus the University of Dubuque Spartans on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Levick Arena. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.