DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras women's basketball team (13-5, 6-1 IIAC) captured their first overtime win of the season in an 80-74 victory over crosstown rival, University of Dubuque (6-12, 1-6 IIAC). Junior Terese McMahon led the team in scoring with 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting. Juniors Lori Obendorf (13) and Kat Cabrera (15) and senior Kaitlin Phillips (15) also scored in double-digits on the night. Together, the four starters combined for 76 percent of the teams' points.     

TURNING POINT
Due to foul trouble, Obendorf sat out for the final minutes of the third quarter, but her return to the court in the fourth quarter was huge for Loras. In the fourth period alone, Obendorf recorded nine of her 13 total points and 11 of her 14 total rebounds. She also tallied three blocks.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Duhawks and Spartans alternated possession for the majority of the first quarter and neither team was able to pull away as Loras owned the largest lead of the half with four points. The teams utilized different offensive strategies to put points on the board. Half of Dubuque's first quarter points came from two 3-pointers by the Spartans' leading scorer, Emily Brinker.

Loras, on the other hand, was working the ball under the basket. The Duhawks outscored the Spartans 18-10 in the paint in the first half. Phillips led this effort with eight first half points, which consisted of several drives through the lane. This dominance in the paint gave the Duhawks a 17-13 lead after 10 minutes.    

Second Quarter
The Spartans entered the second period with a fast-paced offense and executed a 9-2 scoring run to take a 22-19 lead. Head coach Justin Heinzen called a timeout with 6:41 remaining in the quarter to regroup his team and attempt to stall the Dubuque momentum. Heinzen's plan worked to perfection as Loras scored six unanswered points to end their skid and regain the lead.

The toughest part of the night for the Duhawks was stopping the Spartans' leading scorer, Emily Brinker. Brinker had 41 points on the night, 18 in the first half, which was more than half of what her team totaled in the opening 20 minutes. Despite Brinker's hot shooting, Loras held firm on their lead, 32-30.

Third Quarter
Both teams found themselves in foul trouble to open the half, making free throws a crucial opportunity to create a deficit. The Duhawks went 4-for-4 from the line while the Spartans converted on 7-of-10 attempts.

Dubuque's 10-point run in the final four minutes of the period that allowed them to surpass the Duhawks. Fortunately, a layup from sophomore Lauren Stanich with 26 seconds left in the third kept the game within one possession. Loras trailed 48-46 entering the fourth stanza.   

Fourth Quarter
Entering Wednesday, the Duhawks were 3-5 this season in games where they trailed after three quarters.  The fourth quarter featured three lead changes and the score was tied five times. Despite hot shooting from McMahon, Cabrera and Obendorf, Brinker was also effective from the floor, so neither team could fully obtain an advantage.

With 14 seconds remaining in regulation and the score knotted at 62, McMahon managed to beat her defender and drop a layup through the twine with four seconds to spare on the clock. Unfortunately for Loras, that was just enough time for Brinker to sink a jumper on the other end of the court and send the game to overtime with the teams deadlocked, 64-all.

Overtime
The Duhawks moved quickly from the tip-off and scored the first four points of the overtime period. Consecutive baskets from Cabrera and Phillips minutes later gave Loras a 77-72 lead with 1:02 remaining. Phillips converted on 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch, sealing the 80-74 victory over the crosstown rivals.    

FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Terese McMahon | McMahon recorded a team-high 18 points on 8-of-19 shooting. She also grabbed eight rebounds and tallied one steal.

SOUNDBITES | Justin Heinzen


UP NEXT
The Duhawks will travel to Decorah, Iowa to face Luther for the second time this year. The Duhawks handed the Norse (14-4, 6-1 IIAC) their lone conference loss earlier this season. In their Wednesday night contest, Luther defeated Buena Vista, 79-74, to maintain their position at the top of the standings with Loras.