LINCOLN, Neb.­­— Sweeping the regular season series, the No. 19/23 Wartburg Knights women's basketball squad posted a 69-52 victory over the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves.
 
Jaedon Murphy, who would lead all scorers in the game, opened the first quarter with a pair of layups as the Orange & Black took a 4-0 lead early. Britney Young caught a pass from Sara Faber for the first three-pointer of the game for either squad. The Prairie Wolves tied the game at 13 with just under four minutes remaining in the quarter before finishing on a 7-4 run.
 
The Prairie Wolves extended their lead to five to start the second quarter as Young and Brea Dillavou answered with back-to-back three-pointers to take a 23-22 lead. After trading baskets and scoring droughts, Dillavou hit a pair of baskets with Young capping off a 7-0 run by the Knights.
 
A pair of trips to the free throw line in the opening minute of the third quarter by Macy Harris saw the Orange & Black take a ten-point advantage. The Orange & Black nearly doubled the points scored by the Prairie Wolves in the third quarter, outscoring them 23-12. With cruise control on for the offense, the Knights took a 15-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.
 
The Prairie Wolves defense did not allow a basket by the Orange & Black for 2:40 in the fourth quarter, as Young hit a shot from beyond the arc. The Knights kept a double-digit lead over the Prairie Wolves in the quarter, as the closest the Prairie Wolves got was 12. Young hit the final shot of the evening, with a Murphy assist.
 
Handling the ball well, the Knights were credited with a season-low nine turnovers.

With the win, the Knights improve to 16-4 on the season and 9-3 in American Rivers Conference play. The Prairie Wolves fall to 4-16 and 2-10 in conference play.  
 
Checking out the Numbers
 
From the field, the Orange & Black shot 39 percent (24-of-62 FG) and made nine three-pointers (32 percent). The Knights went 12-of-16 from the free throw line (75 percent) as the bench contributed 24 points.  The Orange & Black collected 12 points off turnovers and converted 13 offense rebounds for 18 second change points. The Knights added 40 rebounds and 14 assists.
 
Three Knights landed in double-digits in the contest, led by Murphy with 20 points (7-of-11 FG). Young (5-of-10 three pointers) recorded 17 points with Dillavou added 13 (5-of-12 FG). Seven of the eleven Knights that took the court scored.
 
Murphy recorded nine rebounds to lead the Knights with Young adding five assists to lead the Orange & Black.
 
Knights in the Poll
 
After dropping back-to-back overtime games, the Knights fell to the No. 19 spot in the D3hoops.com poll.
 
The Knights remained inside the top-25 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Associations (WBCA) poll, falling to No. 23.
 
Next Time on the Court
 
The Knights return to Levick Arena for a midweek contest as the Dutch of Central are set to visit. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m. on February 9.  


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