WAVERLY, Iowa – No.6/6 women's basketball (25-2,16-0 A-R-C) closed American Rivers Conference Tournament play with a hard-fought 57-51 win over No. 17/20 Loras (23-4, 14-2 A-R-C) in the championship game. The win gives Wartburg the A-R-C's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and marks the seventh tournament title in program history.
Game Summary
- First Half
- First Quarter
- Macy Harris started the game with a three pointer to put Wartburg ahead 3-0, but the Duhawks responded with an 8-1 run that put Loras ahead 8-4 with 6:33 left in the first
- Harris connected from three again and then found an open Lauren Woeste for a layup to put Wartburg in front 9-8
- Free throws from Sara Faber and Jaedon Murphy kept Wartburg in front and then a three from Faber made the score 15-10 with two minutes to play in the first quarter
- Murphy stretched the lead to seven, but Loras closed the quarter with four unanswered points to cut the Wartburg lead to 17-14
- Second Quarter
- Woeste and Murphy both started the second with baskets in the paint to put Wartburg ahead 21-14 two minutes into quarter
- The Knights answered a made Loras three pointer with a Taylor Runchey steal that led to a fastbreak score for Harris
- Murphy scored again in the paint, but the Duhawks cut the lead to 25-23 with 1:46 left in the half
- Lauren Golinghorst drew a foul and made both free throws to close the first half for Wartburg in front 27-23
- Second Half
- Third Quarter
- After two quick buckets to start the half, Loras trailed 28-27 with 8:42 left in the third
- Faber made a free throw to extend the lead to two, but Loras tied the game at 29 before Britney Young nailed a three pointer to put the Knights up 32-29
- The Wartburg lead grew to eight points after free throws from Woeste and a three pointer from Faber
- Faber scored the next five points for the Knights, but Loras cut the lead to 43-38 after three quarters
- Fourth Quarter
- Young answered an early Loras basket with a three that put Wartburg ahead 46-40 to begin the final quarter
- Loras went on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to take its first lead of the half 47-46
- After each team went 1/2 from the free throw line, the score was 48-47, Loras in front with 3:07 to play
- Harris collected an offensive rebound and found an open Young for a clutch three pointer to give Wartburg a 50-48 lead with 1:29 remaining
- After a Murphy block on the defensive end, Faber drove into the lane and finished a tough layup to make it 52-48 with under 30 seconds to play
- Faber, Runchey and Woeste closed the game with free throws to give Wartburg a 57-51 win
Top Performers
Notes/Streaks
- Wartburg wins seventh A-R-C Tournament title in program history
- Knights earn automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament
- Eighth-straight season earning NCAA Tournament berth
- The Knights lead the all-time series 64-29
- In A-R-C Tournament matchups Wartburg leads the series 7-5 (3-1 in championship games)
- Young is now tied for second all-time in three pointers at 217
- Murphy is now third all-time in career blocks at Wartburg with 116
- Wartburg shooting: 30.6% FG, 34.8% 3P and 73.1% FT
- Loras shooting: 36.8% FG, 22.2% 3P and 71.4% FT
- The Knights held a 45-22 advantage in rebounding
- 13-5 on the offensive glass
Next Time Out
The Knights have earned the A-R-C's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament and will await the bracket release scheduled for Monday, Feb. 26 at 1:30 p.m. central time.
