WAVERLY, Iowa - The second ranked Wartburg women's basketball team returned to its winning ways on Friday, Feb. 5 when it took down Westminster College 104-54 in a nonconference matchup inside Levick Arena. The Knights improved to 5-0 all-time against the Blue Jays. 

The Orange & Black (8-1, 2-1 A-R-C) will return to American Rivers Conference competition on Wednesday, Feb. 10 when they take on Simpson College (4-0, 3-0 A-R-C) inside Levick Arena with tip-off set for 5:30 p.m. 

The Knights broke out on a 15-3 run in the opening five minutes of the contest behind a stifling full-court trap that forced seven first-period turnovers for the Blue Jays. Six Knights made a basket in the first quarter and Wartburg shot 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. The Wartburg defense did not allow much as Westminster went 1-for-14 from the field in the opening frame and faced a 15-point deficit entering the second period. 

Each team got into a rhythm offensively when the Knights shot 52.6% from the floor in the second and Westminster got hot from long range, knocking in 66.7% of its shots from three. Freshman forward Jaedon Murphy registered six points on 3-of-3 shooting in the second and senior forward Payton Draper added nine to give Wartburg a 21-point lead at halftime. 

The third period was much like the first as Wartburg forced 11 turnovers and held a 17-0 advantage on points of turnovers. The strong shooting continued for the Knights when they erupted for 32 points and shot the ball at a 63.6% clip from the field. Senior forward Kaitlyn Volesky and freshman guard Sara Faber posted a combined 10 points in the period on 5-of-6 shooting. 

Wartburg held on to its comfortable lead throughout the fourth while posting 23 points and shooting 53.3% from the floor. The Knights' bench was in full force in the final period, outscoring the Blue Jays' reserves 20-8 and Wartburg cruised to a 50-point victory. 

The Knights were led offensively by Waverly native Draper who recorded 17 points on a season-high seven made field goals. Sophomore guard Macy Harris tied a career-high 16 points while Faber notched a career-best 13 points. Murphy also reached double figures in scoring with 11. Coming off the bench, senior Bailey Naig earned a season-high nine points and a team-high eight rebounds. Freshman guard Britney Young tallied a game-high and career-best six assists. 

Defensively, Wartburg forced 26 turnovers on a season-high 15 steals and five blocks. The Knights held the Blue Jays to just 32.7% from the floor and 35.3% from beyond the arc.