INDIANOLA, Iowa—The No. 5/8 Wartburg Knights women's basketball squad was unable to overcome an early first quarter deficit as the No. 12/12 Simpson College Storm handed the Knights their first loss of the season, 90-74.
 
Hannah Anderson answered the Storm's opening three-pointer on an assist from Britney Young. Brea Dillavou and Maggie Wilkins recorded a pair of three-pointers to snap a three-minute scoring drought by the Knights with 4:01 remaining in the opening quarter. Sara Faber recorded an old-fashioned three-point play as Jaedon Murphy scored the final points of the first quarter for the Knights.
 
The Knights and Storm had a slow start to the second quarter as Macy Harris hit a layup to trim the Storm's lead to six at 16-22. The Knights and Strom traded baskets as Taylor Runchey made four consecutive free throws late in the quarter. Dillavou and Harris recorded a pair of layups in the final 1:21 of the quarter as the Knights would trail by 15 at the break.
 
The Knights and Storm traded baskets as the Knights opening point of the third quarter came from a free throw attempt by Anderson. Murphy and Anderson hits baskets within 30-seconds as the Knights trimmed the deficit to 18. The Storm defense held the Knights to four points over four minutes as Dillavou broke through the defense with a shot from behind the arc.
 
Anderson and Zoey Long opened the final period of play with a pair of shots from behind the arc. Nearly three minutes passed between shots for the Knights as the Knights had a 9-8 run. Harris continued a series of three-pointers with 3:48 remaining in the quarter. Young scored a three-pointer before moments later competing an old-fashioned three-point play. The Knights would outscore the Storm 29-15 in the fourth quarter.
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
Anderson led the Knights in scoring on 4-of-10 from field goal range, including four three-pointers for 13 points. Dillavou added 12 points (5-of-9 field goal range), while Faber was the final Knights player in double-figure scoring on 4-of-9 shooting for 11 points.
 
Harris led the Knights in rebounding, collecting eight boards. Lauren Woeste added six rebounds as the Knights collected 39 rebounds in the game.
 
The Knights shot 39 percent from the field and 38 percent from behind the arc, making 11 three-pointers. The Knights shot 58 percent from the free throw line, making 11-of-19 free throw attempts. The Knights recorded 17 assists and nine steals in the contest.
 
Knights in the Poll
 
Climbing in the polls, the Wartburg women's basketball rose in the D3hoops.com and Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) rankings.

The Knights, who were ranked No. 10 in the preseason poll, sit at No. 5 after starting the season 6-0. In the WBCA rankings, the Knights sit at No. 8, having previously been at No. 11 in last week's poll.
 
Next Time Out
 
The Knights women's basketball squad returns to action on Dec. 19 as they take on Chapman University in California.
 
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