DUBUQUE, Iowa—A strong second half propelled the No. 13/15 Wartburg Knights women's basketball squad avenged an American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) quarterfinal loss to the Loras College Duhawks. The Knights defeated the Duhawks in A-R-C battle 84-82.
 
The Knights opening baskets came from Hannah Anderson and Jaedon Murphy as the Duhawks jumped out to a 10-4 lead. Murphy hit a three-pointer at the 5:34 mark to bring the Knights within one at 10-9. The Duhawks held the Knights to five points, going on a 16-5 run to end the first quarter.
 
The Knights went on an 8-4 run late in the second quarter, as Sara Faber and Brea Dillavou hit a pair of shots from behind the arc. The Knights made three trips to the free throw line in the quarter, going 6-of-6 from the line. The Knights and Duhawks matched each other point-for-point in the closing minutes of the first half as Macy Harris hit a three-pointers with five seconds remaining in the half.
 
Anderson hit four of her five three-pointers this evening in the opening three minutes of the second half, cutting the Knights deficit down to two. Back-to-back baskets by Faber gave the Knights the lead for the first time with 5:45 remaining in the quarter. The Knights offense started clicking in the second half, going on a 10-4 run to take a six-point lead with one quarter to go.
 
The game went down to the wire as the Knights and Duhawks tied the game at 75 with 6:24 remaining. A late foul by the Knights sent the Duhawks to the line for a pair of free throws and a 79-77 lead. Dillavou hit a three-pointer with just under three minutes to go before Murphy hit a shot on an assist from Britney Young. With six seconds remaining in the game, the Duhawks hit a three-pointer tying the game at 82. Young connected with Dillavou with two seconds remaining as Dillavou made the game-winning layup for the Knights.
 
With the win, the Knights improve to 13-2 and 6-1 overall in the conference. The Duhawks fall to 11-5 overall and 5-2 in conference play.
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
The Knights shot 43 percent from the field and made 13 three-pointers (37 percent behind the arc). The Orange & Black went 9-of-12 from the free throw line (75 percent), going percent in the second and fourth quarters.
 
The Knights forced 23 turnovers by the Duhawks and collected 24 points off turnovers. The Knights bench contributed 38 points in the victory and created 16 second chance points.
 
Anderson led the Knights in scoring, leading all scorers with 19 points (7-of-11 FG, 5-of-9 3-pointer). Faber added 16 points (6-of-16 FG) and Murphy went 6-of-14 FG (15 points). Faber and Murphy were both perfect from the free throw line (2-of-2). Harris and Dillavou rounded out the Knights in double-digit scoring, adding 12 points each.
 
Faber led all rebounding efforts for the Knights, collected 8 of the Knights 29 rebounds. The Knights added 18 assists, led by five from Young.
 
Knights in the Poll
 
In the D3hoops.com rankings, the Knights stayed at No. 13 following impressive outings by the Knights.
 
The Knights rose two spots in the Women's Basketball Coaches Associations (WBCA) poll, landing at No. 15.
 
Next Time Out
 
The Knights are set to host Buena Vista for a Jan. 21 game inside Levick Arean. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. 
 
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