WAVERLY, Iowa— Matching a career-high 15 points, Britney Young and the No. 5/11 Wartburg Knights women's basketball team came from a first half deficit to defeat the Blue Jays of Westminster, 75-63.
 
The Knights, who trailed by one at the break, held the Blue Jays to 13 in the third quarter. The Knights move to 6-0, 2-0 A-R-C, while the Blue Jays move to 4-4 on the year.
 
Young matched a career-high 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting, while Brea Dillavou matched a career-best 11 points.
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
Young led the Knights with 15 points on 5-of-12 shooting. Young was 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and collected three rebounds. Dillavou, who shot 50% from the field (4-of-8), collected five rebounds as she went 3-for-3 from beyond the arc.
 
Taylor Runchey led the Knights in rebounds, collecting seven of the Knights 47 boards. The Knights recorded 14 assists and four steals in the contest.
 
As a squad, the Knights shot 34 percent from the field in field goals, while shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc. At the free throw line, the Knights would miss seven shots (19-of-26) for 73 percent. The Knights bench added 32 points, while the Knights collected 15 points off turnovers.
 
For the Blue Jays, Reese Arnold led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Arnold (5-of-5) would be one of three Blue Jays to go perfect from the free throw line. The Blue Jays saw Annette Rameriez (12 pts) and Avylina Powel-Qualo (10 pts) land in double figures.
 
The Blue Jays shot 34 percent from the field, while shooting 25 percent from beyond the arc. The Blue Jays missed only one shot at the free throw line, shooting 90 percent (9-of-10).
 
How It Happened
 
The Blue Jays jumped out to a hot start, making seven of the nine opening shots, as they took an early 16-12 lead over the Knights. The Knights would trail by as many as eight in the first quarter, as the Knights suffered through a two-minute scoring drought. Zoey Long snapped the Knights scoring drought, making a three-pointer from the corner as the Knights' Dillavou hit a three-pointer seconds later. Trading baskets in the closing minutes, Runchey scored the final basket of the quarter as the Knights trailed by one.
 
The Blue Jays took a 7-2 opening run in the second quarter as Britney Young of the Orange & Black scored the first layup of the quarter. The Knights defense forced a series of missed shots and turnovers, bringing the game within two with 4:19 remaining in the first half. The Blue Jays extended their lead to eight with 3:02 remaining as the Knights would make four trips to the free throw line, going seven-of-eight from the line. Jaedon Murphy, who was held to only three first half points, made her defensive presence known, blocking a late attempt in the closing seconds of the first half.
 
Hannah Anderson hit back-to-back shots from behind the arc to give the Knights their first lead in the second half, on assists from Runchey and Young as the Knights jumped out to a five-point lead. Both offenses were hot in the opening minutes of the third quarter as the lead changed twice. Murphy, who scored three third quarter points, made her only attempt as the Knights jumped out to a six-point advantage. Dillavou extended the league to 11 after hitting back-to-back shots.
 
With cruise control on, Sara Faber hit a three-pointer, giving the Knights a 14-point advantage with 7:41 remaining. On a 7-0 run by the Blue Jays, the Knights saw their lead trimmed down before Faber stopped the scoring streak by the Blue Jays. Dillavou and Young hit back-to-back three-pointers as Young matched her career-high 15 points in the contest. Murphy and Macy Harris made trips to the free throw line in the closing minutes as the Knights held off the late fourth quarter charge from the Blue Jays.
 
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 4-0. In the WBCA rankings, the Knights sit at No. 11, having previously been at No. 12
 
Next Time Out
 
The No. 5/11 Knights conclude a three-game homestand as they host the University of Northwestern (Minn) on Tuesday, Dec. 7. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Levick Arena.
 
For more information on Wartburg Athletics, follow the Knights on Twitter, Instagram, like us on Facebook, or sign up for text updates/score alerts from the rainedout.net text-messaging system.