ABOUT ST. AMBROSE ...
The Fighting Bees enter Sunday's match up ranked No. 20 in the NAIA. In their last outing, St. Ambrose topped No. 10 Purdue University Calumet.

As a consistent force in the NAIA, the Fighting Bees are fueled by strong play in the post. Junior Devan Griffin and senior Katie Jensen pace the play in the paint. Griffin leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) while Jensen averages a double-double through the team's first five game (16.8 ppg & 10.4 rpg) posing tough tasks for Loras' three headed monster at forward (Victoria May, Lori Obendorf, Terese McMahon).

Sunday's contest marks the first meeting between the teams since the 1996-97 season when the Fighting Bees came away victorious, 101-47.

ABOUT ELMHURST ...
Elmhurst will travel to the Athletic & Wellness Center after more than a week off.

The Bluejays will bring a two-game losing streak along with them after falling to back-to-back Iowa Conference opponents (Wartburg 73-70, Coe 78-72). With three players averaging double digits in scoring, Elmhurst puts points on the board but struggles to do so efficeintly. Meanwhile on the defensive side, the Bluejays hold their opponents to 44.2 percent from the floor.

In last year's meeting, the Duhawks took home the "W" in a 76-74 nail bitter. Kaitlin Phillips (19), Victoria May (14), and Kathleen Cabrera (10) scored double digits to pace a balanced scoring attack for Loras.

ABOUT WASH.-ST. LOUIS ...

The No. 8 Bears host the Duhawks after taking on No.22 Illinois Wesleyan on Sunday, December 30.

Prior to their match up with the Titans, the Bears boast a perfect record on the season with wins over Lake Forest, Rose-Hulman, Southwestern (Tex.), and Illinois College.

Leading the way for the Bears is forward Melissa Gilkey. Playing in a team-high 93 minutes, Gilkey leads the team in scoring (17.0 ppg) as the only Bear averaging double figures. Shooting 54.3 percent from the field, Gilkey has been perfect from the charity stripe (15 of 15).

An early deficit plagued the Duhawks in last year's 67-44 loss to the Bears. Victoria May led Loras with eight points, five rebounds, and three assists.

MAY GARNERS IOWA CONFERENCE HONORS ...
As the Iowa Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week, senior Victoria May fueled the Duhawks to an even 1-1 record. Her first double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds) of the season came in Loras' convincing win over Beloit College (94-66). May followed the all-around performance up with a career-high 27 points in the Duhawks clash with No. 5 UW-Oshkosh on Saturday. Shooting 81.3 percent from the field, May had her way with the Titans defense in the paint. A force on the inside, May also tallied six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the game.

FACING OFF FOR FIRST TIME IN NEARLY TWO DECADES ...
The last time the Duhawks squared off against the Fighting Bee's many of the players on this year's roster were in diapers. St. Ambrose earned the victory in the match up (101-47) holding Loras to a season-low in scoring. Loras finished finished the 1996-97 with a record of 15-9 despite the loss.

DIG OUT THOSE UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS ...
Wednesday's match up will give fans the opportunity to wins prizes courtesy of the Loras College Bookstore and Loras College Women's Basketball. With fans encouraged to wear "ugly Christmas sweaters" as part of the game's theme, fans that do so will be eligible to take part in halftime promotions. While the fan voted to have the best ugly sweater will win a prize.

DUHAWKS HUNGRY FOR PROGRAM'S FIRST WIN OVER BEARS ...
When the Duhawks make the trip to St. Louis, Missouri to tackle the No. 8 Washington University - St. Louis Bears they will be looking to enter unchartered territory. The Bears hold a 3-0 edge in the series.

CRYSTAL-CLEAR HIGH-DEFINITION ...
During the offseason, thanks largely in part to an anonymous donation, the Loras College Athletic Communications Department upgraded its hardware and technology and will now provide high-definition broadcasts of its home contests all season long. To watch, simply go to: www.duhawks.com/live

LORAS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN IOWA CONFERENCE COACHES POLL ...
The Duhawks were voted second, receiving two first place votes. Finishing just ahead of Loras (48) was Simpson College with 54 points. While Coe College rounded out the top three with 42 points, receiving one first place vote. Loras' roster is filled with talent, some of which is unproven with the loss of three key seniors. Simpson earns the first place slot for the second straight year after finishing 14-12 last season.

DUHAWKS LOSE LORAS' TOP SENIOR CLASS ...
Over the course of her career Katie Langmeier etched her name in Loras history as one of the best in program history. Fueling the Duhawks to their best season in over a decade, Langmeier was named to the D3Hoops All-West Region Second team after being named Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. In addition to Langmeier, the Duhawks lose Lauren Byrne and Katie Wheeler. Byrne's leadership combined with her contributions on the floor (6.0 pts, 3.8 rebounds). In Wheeler, Loras loses leadership and grit. Together the three make up the winningest class in Loras Women's Basketball history, with 66 wins over their four-year careers.

ALL-CONFERENCE TRIO PRIMED FOR SEASON ...
Senior Victoria May returns for her senior season after posting career-highs across the board as a junior. As the team's most efficient shooter, boasting a team-best .539 field goal percentage.Junior Kaitlin Phillips was second to only Langmeier in points per game last season (12.2) while she led the Duhawks in free throws (72), three-pointers (34). Sophomore Kat Cabrera looks to build upon last year's breakout season. As a freshman Cabrera averaged 6.8 points and 3.0 rebounds. She led the team with 72 assists while also shooting a team-best 84.7% from the free throw line.

HEINZEN BEGINS EIGHTH SEASON WITH THE DUHAWKS ...
Justin Heinzen will embark on his eighth season as the head coach of the Duhawks after leading his team to a 19-9 record, the best under his tenure, in 2013-14. The stellar season by his squad earned Heinzen Iowa Conference Coach of the Year honors and moved him into the lead for wins in the program's history. He enters the season with a 112-76 record.  

NEW ADDITION TO THE COACHING STAFF ...
On June 2, Jamie Majerowicz was tabbed Heinzen's top assistant. A standout student-athlete and later coach at Winona State, Majerowicz comes to Loras with four years of coaching experience on top of a strong playing career. Her main focus will be working with the Duhawks posts to find a new solution down low after losing Langmeier to graduation. For Majerowicz, she's excited for the opportunity to work alongside Heinzen, who's proven to be effective in the Iowa Conference.