WAVERLY, Iowa— Sara Faber recorded a career-best 17 points as the No. 5/8 Wartburg Knights women's basketball squad held the University of Northwestern (MN) Eagles to three points in the third quarter. The Knights, who took the lead early, defeated the Eagles 79-46 inside Levick Arena.
 
Hannah Anderson answered an opening three-pointer from the Eagles for the only tie of the game. The Knights found luck from behind the arc, hitting five three pointers in the first quarter. All nine of Anderson's points came from behind the arc.

Faber, who went 6-of-13 in field goals and perfect from the free throw line, hit an early three-pointer as the Knights lead to ten at 16-6. Jaedon Murphy, who led the team with 19 points (8-of-17 from field goal range), created an old-fashioned three-point play as the Knights took a ten-point lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Eagles brought the game within eight at 28-20 in the second quarter as Faber and Murphy would hit back-to-back shots to extend lead to 13. Murphy hit a pair of three-pointers as the final basket came with 1:13 remaining in the half.
 
The Knights defense held the Eagles to only three points in the third quarter, as the Knights extended their lead to 30.
 
Brea Dillavou extended the Knights lead to 33 on a free throw attempt with 7:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. Cora Saunders, who saw action for the second time this season, made a pair of three-pointers in the final 1:17 to extend the lead to 36. The Eagles, who opened the game with a three-pointer, ended the game with a three-pointer as the Knights improved to 7-0 on the season with a 79-46 victory.
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
The Knights defense held the Eagles to 24 percent shooting from field goal range, while allowing only six three-pointers. The Eagles made two trips to the free throw line, going 2-of-3 at the line. The Eagles bench added 23 points, while scoring 24 points in the paint.
 
The Knights shot 43 percent on the night, made 12 three-pointers. The Knights went 7-of-10 from the free throw line, after making seven trips to the line. The Knights bench added 41 points and scored 20 points of turnovers.
 
Murphy and Dillavou led the Knights in rebounding, collecting seven boards each. The Knights recorded a season-high 50 rebounds and assists (20). Britney Young collected seven of the Knights assists, while the Knights committed only 11 turnovers 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
 
Returning to American Rivers Conference action, the Knights travel to No. 12/12 Simpson College on Dec. 11. Tip-off is slated for 2 p.m. in Indianola, Iowa.
 
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