WAVERLY, Iowa – Wartburg women's basketball routed Bethany Lutheran College 78-44 to close play at the Wartburg Holiday Tournament on Friday, Dec. 30. The Orange & Black are now 8-4 overall and remain 3-0 in American Rivers Conference play
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Game Summary
- First Half
- Each team traded baskets to begin the game and it was 2-2 for the first two minutes of the first quarter
- Baskets from Sara Faber, Lauren Donlea and Macy Harris pushed the Knights in front 8-5 with 6:05 left in the first
- The Knights went down three points with under 2:30 left in the quarter, but a Zoey Long three pointer tied the game at 14
- Taylor Runchey made two free throws with under three seconds left and the Knights led 16-14 after the first quarter
- After four early points from the Vikings, Wartburg controlled the quarter going on a 17-0 run to take a 36-18 lead
- The Knights continued their dominant quarter and finished the half leading 43-20
- Wartburg allowed just six points and forced nine turnovers in the second quarter
- Second Half
- The Vikings scored the first two points of the second half and then Wartburg scored the next nine points after back-to-back corner threes from Natalie Bearbower
- The Knights lead grew to 30 with 6:20 left in the third quarter and got to 33 at its highest point
- Bethany was able to cut the lead under 30 after three quarters
- Knights lead 59-30 after the third
- Wartburg opened the final quarter with a 10-0 run that feature another Bearbower three and baskets from Murphy and Faber
- The Knights lead reached 42 after a pair of Murphy free throws with under 6:30 left to play
- BLC put together a 12-0 run to cut Wartburg's lead to 74-44
- The Knights closed out game and won 78-44
Top Performers
- Faber
- 16 points
- Six rebounds
- Four assists
- One steal
- Murphy
- 13 points
- Three rebounds
- Two steals
- Harris
- Eight points
- Six rebounds
- Three assists
Notes/Streaks
- Knights remain unbeaten against Bethany Lutheran all-time
- This is Wartburg's widest margin of victory this season
- The Knights won the turnover battle 26-9
- Wartburg shooting percentages:
- 39.4% FG
- 33.3% 3P
- 62.5% FT
- Tatum Grubbs scored her first points of the season today with three
- Career high in scoring for:
- Bearbower – nine
- Donlea – seven
Next Time Out
The Knights will be back at home on Wednesday, Jan. 4 for an A-R-C matchup against Central College at 5:30 p.m.