STORM LAKE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - Career-high performances by sophomore Lori Obendorf and freshman Lauren Stanich catapulted the Loras College Women's Basketball team past Buena Vista on Wednesday night. Obenforf's game-high 20 point performance combined with a stout defensive effort by the Duhawks secured the Iowa Conference road win.

The Duhawks (12-8, 6-3) won the opening tip but the Beavers (7-13, 2-7) found the bottom of the net first as Sidney Beckman drained a shot from beyond the arc. On the ensuing possession, junior Katilin Phillips pushed the ball up court to freshman Miranda Chapman. A quick fake gave Chapman space to drive before sophomore Lori Obendorf's defender stepped in to help. Recognizing where the help defender came from, Chapman dished to Obendorf for the early basket. 

Moments later senior Carly Goede drove the right side of the lane. With defenders sliding over to get in place for a charge, Goede slipped a pass backwards to Kaitlin Phillips. A smooth catch on a pin-point pass gave Kaitlin Phillips the Duhawks lone three-pointer of the opening frame. 

After forcing the Beavers into a poor shot, freshman Lauren Stanich pulled down the board and fired a pass up to Goede in transition. Out running a defender, Goede finished in the paint pushing the Duhawks lead to double figures, 19-9.

Just over halfway through the opening frame, Obendorf played high-low with sophomore Erin Weaver for an open layup. On the ensuing Beaver possession, Obendorf stepped in to intercept a pass and whipped the ball up court to Kaitlin Phillips. After some work around the perimeter, the Duhawks fed the ball into Weaver who took advantage of the space between her and her defender and knocked down a jump shot. The basket pushed Loras lead to 17, their largest of the half with 9:52 to play before the break.

With the Duhawk offense sputtering, Buena Vista's quick ball movement exposed gaps in Loras' defense. Slower defensive movement by the Duhawks left the Beavers open from deep and left them out of position on the boards over the course of nearly five minutes. Buena Vista used a 7-0 run to fight their way back into the game.

Fortunately for the Duhawks, the offense returned to form, withstanding every push by the Beavers before taking a 37-24 lead into halftime.

The Duhawks returned to the court in the second half with all of the momentum. Every basket by the Beavers was matched by Loras, allowing them to maintain control.

With 11:13 to play, Stanich extended the Duhawks lead to a game-high 19. While the shot clock wound down, Stanich knocked down a three to extend Loras' lead. 

Once again, the Duhawks offense stalled, giving Buena Vista the opportunity to chip away at the lead. The Beaver did just that, cutting Loras' lead to 61-50 late in the game.

In the end, it was the Duhawks defense that stood tall. The Beavers gave the Duhawks their best shot down the stretch but Weaver forced a turnover and Obendorf denied a shot before Loras forced a shot clock violation. 

Paced by advantages in every statistical category, the Duhawks earned the win 69-54.