DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's basketball team concludes their three-game road trip on Wednesday night against fifth-ranked UW-Oshkosh before returning home to the AWC to host No. 10 Wheaton on Saturday.
 

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST UW-OSHKOSH
The Duhawks will travel to Wisconsin on Wednesday to face UW-Oshkosh for the seventh time in the teams' history. The Titans own the all-time series record, 4-2. The Duhawks captured one of their victories in the teams' first meeting in the 2007-2008 season.

LAST MEETING AGAINST UW-OSHKOSH
The Duhawks fell 76-64 to the Titans in Loras' home opener last season. A career-high 27 points from then-senior Victoria May was not enough to stop UW-Oshkosh, who shot 10-22 (45.5 percent) from behind the arc. The Duhawks also committed 21 turnovers to the Titan's 12, allowing the visitors to eventually gain and keep the lead.

SCOUTING THE TITANS     
Coming into this week, UW-Oshkosh is undefeated this season posting a 6-0 record and ranked No. 5 in the latest D3Hoops.com poll. The team broke the program record of fewest points allowed in their most recent 67-19 victory over Mount Mary University. On offense the Titans are led by senior Marissa Selner who averages 9.7 points per game. Defensively, junior Alex Richard controls the court with 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST WHEATON
The Thunder own the advantage in the all-time series, winning three of the four meetings. The teams first met in the 1989-90 season and most recently in the 2014-15 season. The Duhawks topped Wheaton in the inaugural meeting, 60-59.

LAST MEETING AGANST WHEATON
In 2014, the Duhawks traveled to Wheaton to face the 14th-ranked Thunder in a tough matchup. A 13-2 Wheaton run to start the game forced Loras into a deficit they were never able to recover from. Kat Cabrera and Lori Obendorf led the Duhawks in scoring with six points apiece, but the Thunder pulled away with a 68-41 victory.

SCOUTING THE THUNDER
Wheaton (5-1) returned four starters this season, two of which are leading the Thunder statistically this year. Junior guard Katie McDaniels was named to the All-CCIW team last season and leads the team offensively with 12.0 points and 5.7 assists per game. Joining McDaniels as an All-CCIW selection last season and a leader on the team is Hannah Considine. Considine averages 6.5 rebounds and 11.2 points per game.

CONTROLLING THE BOARDS
The Duhawks have dominated the glass this season with a 13.7 rebounding advantage per game. Junior Lori Obendorf has maintained her spot as the team's primary rebounder, averaging 11.5 rebounds per game, an increase from last year's mark of 10.3 per game. Senior guard Kaitlin Phillips has also increased her rebounding to 6.5 from 5.5 rebounds per game last season. This gives the Duhawks many opportunities to dominate on defense and score off second-chance points. Controlling the pace of the game is crucial for the Duhawks as they attempt to continue their winning streak.

JONES FOR THREE
Senior guard Megan Jones has led the Duhawks in 3-point shooting so far this season. Through six games Jones is 7-of-21 behind the arc. Hitting the 3-pointers are crucial, and Jones has been scoring big for Loras. Jones will use this momentum to fuel the Duhawks as the team looks to continue their winning streak against UW-Oshkosh and Wheaton this week.

PHILLIPS EFFECTIVE AT THE LINE
Senior Kaitlin Phillips has gone to the line more than any other Duhawk this season. Her 46 attempts is one greater than the three following free throw attempt leaders combined, (Lori Obendorf, 21; Terese McMahon, 18; Megan Jones, 6.). Phillips has made the most out of the opportunity sinking 37 of the 46 attempts, leading the Duhawks in free-throw efficiency with .804.

TAKING CHANCES
In Loras' first six games of the season the team has tallied 93 points in total (15.5 per game) off second chances. This outnumbers their opponents by a long stretch who have only recorded 43 points in total (7.2 per game) in the same category. The Duhawks' success in this area is attributed to the team's offensive rebounding efforts. Loras currently leads the Iowa Conference in offensive rebounds with 17.5 per game. The team's ability to capitalize on those rebounds will be a large factor in their success this season.

PREPARING FOR THE IIAC
Head coach Justin Heinzen has crafted what can only be described as a grueling schedule for his squad in an effort to best prepare them for the Iowa Conference season, which begins in January. With a cumulative opponent percentage, Loras ranks first in the IIAC and 37th in the nation.