DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) - After earning a midweek win over Buena Vista, Loras looks to keep pace with the Iowa Conference leaders with a tilt in Waverly against Wartburg.
ABOUT WARTBURG ...The Knights enter Saturday's game after back-to-back wins in Iowa Conference play. After the Duhawks slipped past the Knights just 10 days ago, Wartburg has rebounded with wins over Simpson (75-59) and Coe (60-54). Kailey Kladivo has continued her dominant season at the post, averaging an even 15.0 points per game while adding 5.5 rebounds per game. Bobbie Burrows has settled into a groove in the past six games, posting 20-plus points on three occasions. On paper, the two teams score and surrender nearly the exact same number of points. In order to come away with a win, the Duhawks will have to value their offensive possessions while keeping Kladivo under wraps. In Loras' last match up with the Knights, the Duhawks defense held Kladivo to a season-low five points.
EMERGENCE OF YOUTH CONTINUES …There was a point in Wednesday's game in which the Duhawks had three sophomores and two freshman on the court. The flock of five accounted for some of the games top defensive plays down the stretch. In fact, the final five Beavers offensive possessions ended in hard fought defensive rebounds by sophomores
Erin Weaver and
Lori Obendorf, momentum building blocks by Obendorf, a steal by Weaver, and a shot clock violation thanks to tenacious defense by the Loras youth. The progression of play of the underclassmen has bolstered the bench allowing head coach
Justin Heinzen the luxury of fresh legs on the floor in the latter part of the season.
DUHAWKS SAIL PAST BEAVERS IN STORM LAKE …Loras turned in one of its best shooting performances of the season in their 69-54 win over the Beavers on Wednesday night. The Duhawks held advantages in all statistical categories, highlighted by a perfect 16-of-16 from the charity stripe. Sophomore
Lori Obendorf's monster second half propelled her to a career-high 20 points in the game, with freshman
Lauren Stanich adding nine points off the bench.
BALANCE BENEFITING DUHAWKS DOWN STRETCH …Seven different Duhawks have led Loras in scoring over the first 20 games. With a balanced game on offense, opponents have less of an opportunity to key in on specific players. The top notch ability of junior
Kaitlin Phillips to drive to the hoop is raised thanks to the respect her teammates require on the perimeter. Additionally, the perimeter game forces defenses to stretch the floor giving Duhawk posts room to work inside.
LORAS BIGS RANK TOP IN CONFERENCE STATISTICS …Senior
Victoria May and sophomore
Lori Obendorf are first and second respectively in the Iowa Conference in terms of field goal percentage. May averages a hair under 11 points per game while boasting a conference-best 59.1 field goal percentage. Known for her defensive prowess Obendorf takes advantage of her opportunities on offense, boasting a 58.8 field goal percentage. Obendorf also leads the league in rebounds per game (10.3) and blocks (2.5)
FAMILIARITY: A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD …With the turning of the calendar, the Duhawks welcome a second go at conference foes in February. Finishing January with a 5-3 record, the Duhawks look to take advantage of the familiarity of opponents. Of Loras' three losses, all three have come against the top two teams in the conference. The Duhawks are set to finish regular season play with hopes of avenging an early loss to the Kohawks on February 14. While Loras hopes to use familiarity to an advantage, the Duhawks will have to execute their game plan to keep opponents from doing the same.
WEAVER RECORDS CAREER-HIGH IN LOSS TO DUBUQUE …Sophomore
Erin Weaver earned playing time against Dubuque with one task; containing the Spartans' Jenna Kotas. A versatile post player for the Duhawks, Weaver's on ball defense and ability to match up well in the post with Kotas, earned her a career-high 15 minutes in Saturday's match up. A strong defensive effort was matched on the offensive end with a career-high 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting by Weaver.
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 8-1 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.
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.
