DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras women's basketball team opened their season on Friday night with an 80-67 victory over Beloit. The Duhawks cruised to the win with a fast-paced offense fueled by senior Kaitlin Phillips. Loras gave a preview of what the season will hold with a complete team effort in the win with each player who appeared registering at least two points.

TURNING POINT
Loras' lead fluctuated throughout the night until Philips scored on consecutive fast breaks. This spark began a streak of 16 unanswered points and sealed the victory for the Duhawks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Out of the gate the Duhawks executed a fast-paced offense that allowed them to gain a significant 10-0 lead. Junior Kat Cabrera's fast break play forced Beloit into an early timeout. The Duhawks were clicking both offensively and defensively at the start with junior Lori Obendorf leading the effort on defense. The 6-foot-2 forward recorded blocks on back-to-back possessions midway through the first quarter.

Despite a promising lead, Beloit started to mount a comeback, cutting the Loras lead to six with 2:57 to play. After a missed jumped by junior Kat Cabrera, Shelby Kline drained a 3-pointer for the Bucs to make it 17-14. Another missed shot by Loras allowed Beloit to bring the game to within one at 17-16, but that would be as close as the Bucs would get the entire night. With the quarter winding down, junior Erin Weaver drew a charge, which allowed for Cabrera to sink a 3-pointer at the buzzer to close the first quarter for the Duhawks with a 27-20 lead.

Second Quarter
The second quarter began much slower than the first, but Cabrera ended the scoring silence with a baseline field goal to get things going. Nevertheless, the Bucs continued their comeback effort. Beloit executed a full-court press that resulted in a 10-second violation and four turnovers by Loras. Despite the Bucs' attempt to close the gap, Duhawk freshman Kennedy Wohlford scored off an inbound play with 3:53 left in the quarter, bringing the score to 39-29 and regaining Loras' 10-point lead.

Loras continued to widen the gap in the remaining minutes of the quarter. A combination of three Beloit turnovers and two Duhawk steals allowed for multiple fast-break opportunities for Loras. Cabrera and sophomore Brooke Prososki-Green scored on consecutive possessions to extend the Duhawk lead to 15 at 45-30. Loras added another basket by senior Abby Reinke to take a 47-31 lead into the locker room.

Third Quarter
Loras and Beloit exchanged baskets to start the second half with junior Terese McMahon recording four points in the first 90 seconds. She finished the night with 15 points off the bench. Despite the back-and-forth action, Beloit eventually emerged on a 9-0 run led by junior Laura Panicalli.

Most of Loras' points scored in the third quarter were from free throws as Beloit committed eight fouls with their tough defensive pressure. Obendorf, Phillips and freshman Jess Brown each contributed to this free-throw shooting. The Duhawks retained a 64-55 lead at the end of quarter three after Phillips converted on one-of-two free throws.

Fourth Quarter
Trailing by 10 entering the fourth and final frame, Beloit opened with back-to-back baskets to cut the lead to five at 64-59. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, the Bucs offense came to a screeching halt. Over the next 6:37, Beloit failed to tally any points and saw their minuscule five-point deficit explode into a 21-point hole. In total, Loras rattled off 16 unanswered points, starting with back-to-back fast-break drives from Phillips followed by one from sophomore Lauren Stanich. Phillips continued the momentum with a 3-pointer and another layup. Reinke and Brown also contributed to the scoring frenzy with a baseline jumper and 3-pointer, respectively, bringing Loras' lead to 80-59.

With a scoring run started by Wieseman, the Bucs made one last attempt to decrease the deficit going on a run of their own, scoring eight unanswered over the final 2:30 of the game. In the end, it was too little too late as Loras held on for the 80-67 victory.

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Kaitlin Phillips | With a team-high 18 points in addition to four assists, Phillips led the Duhawks' offensive effort. Her ability to read the defense and force the issue with her speed and physicality led to consecutive fast-break drives in the fourth quarter and gave Loras the momentum needed to secure the win.

SOUNDBITES | Kaitlin Phillips & Terese McMahon


SOUNDBITES | Justin Heinzen


UP NEXT
Loras will travel to Kenosha, Wisconsin to take on Carthage on Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Lady Reds opened their 2015-16 season with a 62-54 win over Lakeland at the "Lakeland Tip-Off Tournament" in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Carthage will play Nebraska Wesleyan on Saturday, Nov. 14 for the tournament title.