WAVERLY, Iowa-- The No. 13/15 Wartburg women's basketball team (23-3 overall) advanced to the American Rivers Conference Tournament Championship Game for the third-straight year in the 78-67 win over Luther (12-13) Thursday. The Knights will n host Loras Saturday at 4 p.m.



Junior Emma Gerdes (Cedar Falls) had a team-high 21 points, 15 of which were in the second half alone. Three teammates joined her in double digits as sophomores Tori Hazard (Janesville) had 14, Ally Conrad (Cedar Falls) had 12 and Payton Draper (Waverly) had 11.

Gerdes narrowly missed a double-double with her team-best nine rebounds.

The game was knotted 17 all after the first quarter. The Norse led 33-30  with 1:38 left in the second quarter, until the Orange and Black answered with four-straight points on a layup from sophomore Kaitlyn Volesky (Mount Vernon), a free throw from junior Katie Lindeman (Grundy Center) and another free throw from Draper to take the 34-33 lead at halftime.

The score in the third quarter remained close as neither team led by more than two points. This changed with 2:58 to play in the frame as Wartburg opened a 8-0 run to push it to 54-43.

The Knights continued to lead for the duration of the game, and had a 12 point lead late in the fourth quarter as they made all six of their free throws down the stretch when Luther chose to foul.

Conrad and Gerdes were each perfect from the free throw line, which tied the single game school record in this tournament.

The Orange and Black ended the Norse's season for the third-straight year and held the team shooting percentage advantages in all three categories.