WAVERLY, Iowa— With a trip to the American Rivers Conference Tournament Championship on the line, the contest between the second-seeded Wartburg College Knights and the Loras College Duhawks was a battle from start to finish. The Knights fought back from a first quarter deficit to win the contest 68-54.
While 36 turnovers between the squads were recorded, the story of the game was the battle at the arc. The teams shot a combined 19 three-pointers (Wartburg 11, Loras 8). The Knights kept the Duhawks off the free throw line, allowing only one trip during the contest.
The Knights are set to travel to Simpson College for the A-R-C Championship tournament game on February 26. Tip-off for the championship is to be set as the earliest the game could start is 4 p.m.
Game Summary
Taylor Runchey hit the opening shot of the contest from beyond the arc. The Duhawks jumped out to a 7-3 lead before
Sara Faber found the basket for the Knights. The Duhawks went on an 8-3 run, seeing
Britney Young hit the sole three-pointer for the Knights. The Knights and Duhawks traded baskets, as the Duhawks maintained a lead over the Orange & Black.
Jaedon Murphy caught a pass from Young for the final basket of the first quarter, ending the quarter with a three-pointer.
The Duhawks held the Knights without a field goal for the opening three minutes of the second quarter as Murphy's free throws would be the only points for the Knights early. The Knights trimmed the deficit to six at 26-20 before the Duhawks hit a pair of three-pointers. Faber caught a pass from
Maggie Wilkins as the Knights started a 12-3 run. A pair of free throws from Young trimmed the lead to three points before a last second shot by the Duhawks to end the half.
The first half of action saw little in terms of foul trouble as the teams recorded a combined 6 fouls (Wartburg 1, Loras 5).
Murphy opened the second half with a shot from deep before Runchey answered from the same spot. Young continued the Knights three-point shooting as the Knights took a 43-41 lead. Murphy connected with Faber for a layup with 5:01 remaining as the Knights took the lead for the final time. Defensive pressure by the Knights held the Duhawks to three-points for nearly six minutes. The Knights held the Duhawks to six fourth quarter points as they punched their spot in the A-R-C tournament championship game.
Checking out the Numbers
Murphy led the Knights in scoring with 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting and 4-of-6 from the free throw line. Young added 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting, including three shots from behind the arc. Faber was the final Knight in double-digit, adding 11 points for the Orange & Black.
Brea Dillavou led the Knights on the rebounding front, collecting seven boards.
The Knights shot 37 percent from the field, making 21-of-57 attempts. The Orange & Black went 36 from behind the three-point line, while going 15-for-21 from the free throw line. The Knights collected 40 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 steals in the contest.
The Orange & Black recorded 23 bench points, seven chance points, and 24 points off turnovers. The Knights defense caused 20 turnovers by the Duhawks.
Second Half Comebacks
Each of the meetings this season between the Knights and Duahwks saw second half comebacks by the Knights. In the first meeting this season, the Knights trailed by 10 (50-40) before hitting several three-pointers to open the second half. The Knights trailed by one in the second meeting, which took double overtime to decide a victor. The Knights trailed by five in the semifinal match as the Knights fought back to take the lead late in the third quarter.
Knights in the Poll
Following their double overtime victory, the Knights move to No. 18 in the D3hoops.com poll.
In the Women's Basketball Coaches Association, the Knights have dropped out of the top-25 but are still receiving votes.
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