DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Saturday begins the return loop of the Iowa Conference schedule, pitting Loras against their crosstown rivals, University of Dubuque.
ABOUT DUBUQUE ...The Spartans claimed sole position of first place in the Iowa Conference last Saturday with a win over Coe, 77-72. They enter Saturday's showdown with a 12-6 overall record and 6-1 in Iowa Conference play.
Jenna Kotas leads the Spartans on offense, averaging 17.7 points per game. Against Loras, Kotas was shut down by the Duhawk defense, scoring two free-throws, both of which came on free-throws as she shot 0-for-8 from the floor.
Meggie Schmidt and Kayla Springer join Kotas as the other double-digit scorers, averaging 12.6 and 10.8 points per game respectively.
The Spartans are 7-1 in the month of January, with their only loss being a 80-70 setback to Luther on January 14.
DUHAWKS GRIND OUT WIN OVER WARTBURG …The Loras Women's Basketball team added to their winning streak on Wednesday night, following Saturday's thriller over No. 25 Luther. The Duhawks (11-7, 5-2) defended their home court against Wartburg, winning 62-58. Junior
Kaitlin Phillips recorded her second consecutive 20-point game, finishing with 21 points and five assists.
OPPORTUNITY FOR REDEMPTION …After dropping their first meeting of the season against their crosstown rivals, Saturday provides an opportunity for the Duhawks to get payback. Last time these teams met, junior
Kaitlin Phillips was held to 1-of-7 shooting and five points. For Phillips, it was just the fifth time this season that she had been held under 10 points. Since then, Phillips has averaged 22.5 points in her last two games.
NEW FACE TO THE STARTING LINEUP …Freshman
Miranda Chapman has earned her first two starts of the season after sophomore Kat Cabrera was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Her new role has slowed down her offensive production as a whole, but throughout the season, Chapman has shown her ability to shoot from distance.
PHILLIPS EARNS CHAMPPION OF THE WEEK HONORS …The Loras College Athletic Communications office announced on Tuesday that junior
Kaitlin Phillips was named one of two Champpions of the Week, presented by Champp's Americana.
Kaitlin Phillips led the charge for the Duhawks in Saturday's 70-69 win over No. 25 Luther. Averaging 11.0 points per game heading into the day, Phillips went off for 24 points, going 7-of-11 from the floor and 10-of-12 from the free-throw line. The junior added five rebounds, two assists and one steal.
McMAHON'S TRANSFORMATION CRITICAL FOR LORAS …As a freshman,
Terese McMahon averaged just three minutes a game, giving the Duhawk posts a rest or filling in if fouls become an area of concern. This season, McMahon has shown tremedous growth as a player on both ends of the court. Her offensive skill set was on display in Loras' win over Simpson. A plethora of up-and-unders eluded defenders as McMahon recorded a career-high 14 points. Defensively, McMahon is a viable option of the bench to give sophomore
Lori Obendorf or senior
Victoria May a rest. Her willingness to look for her shot and play aggressive on the offensive side and defensive side provides the Duhawks with a consistent force in the paint. Behind the play of McMahon, Obendorf, and May the Duhawks have outscored their opponents 442 to 360 in the paint. Loras has been outscored in the paint just three times this season, they are 1-2 in those games.
BENCH CONTRIBUTIONS KEY TO DUHAWKS' SUCCESS …Paced by freshman
Miranda Chapman and sophomore
Terese McMahon, the play of the Duhawks bench has been a vital piece to the team's success. Loras holds a 5-1 record when their bench outscores their opponents. While Chapman provides depth at the guard position, McMahon rounds out the three-headed monster in the post alongside sophomore
Lori Obendorf and senior
Victoria May.
DUHAWKS CLOSE 2014 WITH 20-9 RECORD …The 2014 calendar year was an especially noteworthy one for the Loras College Women's Basketball program. The Duhawks accumulated a 20-9 record on their way to their first regular season conference title in over a decade before running the table in the Iowa Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid to the big dance. Loras' season came to a close in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball tournament, as a tight contest ended in favor of host, St. Thomas.
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.
