CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras women's basketball team completed a season sweep of Coe on Wednesday night with a 72-57 victory on the road. The Duhawks' 47.8 percent shooting from the floor, including a 44.4 clip from the 3-point line, helped the Duhawks maintain an advantage for most of hte night. Senior Kaitlin Phillips was 12-for-12 from the free-throw line while junior Kat Cabrera shot 5-of-9 from the floor and finished with 15 points.

TURNING POINT
Coe (13-7, 4-5 IIAC) scored consecutive 3-pointers with 7:29 remaining in the fourth to lessen Loras' lead, 52-49. The Duhawks (14-6, 7-2 IIAC) responded with eight unanswered points to pull away for good.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
The Duhawks got off to what looked to be a great start after senior Megan Jones drained a 3-pointer upon securing the opening tip. Loras then began to steadily build a lead with scoring contributions from eight different Duhawks in the first period alone.
 
Despite gaining an 18-12 advantage with 3:20 remaining in the quarter, Coe started to mount its comeback. The Kohawks executed a 10-4 run to close in on the Duhawks. Six of these 10 points came from Aleena Hobbs and Jordan Holmes from behind the arc. Coe's efforts in these final minutes left the teams deadlocked at 22 entering the second quarter.
 
Second Quarter
Coe took a 24-22 lead to start the quarter, but did not find much success in the following minutes. The team only shot 40 percent from the floor compared to 54.2 percent for Loras. The Kohawks were limited to only six second quarter points due to an effective Duhawk defense that held them scoreless for seven minutes.
 
Meanwhile, Loras didn't find any trouble scoring as they ended the half on a 16-2 run. Six of the Duhawks' points this quarter were from free-throws. Loras converted on 20-of-22 attempts from the charity stripe on the night. With their defensive and offensive success, the Duhawks held a 40-28 lead at halftime.     
 
Third Quarter
The first three minutes of the second half were scoreless until Hobbs drained a 3-pointer followed by a 3-point-play to cut into Loras' lead, 40-34. Both teams attempted to find opportunities around the perimeter, but it was the Duhawks that converted on two of their three 3-point attempts, courtesy of sophomore Miranda Chapman and Megan Jones.
 
Chapman would go on to to finish with 11 points on the night on 3-of-5 shooting. As a team, Loras benefited from six long-range shots, converting at a 44.4 percent rate. Coe, who is known for their distance shooting, was held to 25 percent on the night by the Duhawk defense.
 
While the Kohawks outscored Loras 15-10 in the third, the Duhawks held a 50-43 advantage entering the final quarter.
 
Fourth Quarter
Consecutive Kohawk 3-pointers brought Coe back into the game, cutting Loras' lead to three at 52-49 with 7:29 left in the fourth quarter. Loras responded with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 11 at 60-49, putting the Duhawks in the drivers' seat on their way to a win.
 
Free throws were once again crucial for the Duhawks as 10 fourth quarter points came from the line. Capitalizing on these opportunities helped Loras a 72-57 win and a season sweep of Coe. 
 
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME 
Kat Cabrera | Cabrera recorded 15 points in Wednesday's game, which included a 3-of-3 performance from behind the arc. The Gilbert, Ariz. native added three steals, three assists and two rebounds to complete her stat line.

SOUNDBITES | Justin Heinzen

 
UP NEXT
The Duhawks will host crosstown rival Univ. of Dubuque on Saturday on Lillis Court in the Athletic & Wellness Center. The Spartans (6-14, 1-8 IIAC) suffered an 85-56 loss to Buena Vista on Wednesday in Storm Lake, Iowa. In their previous meeting, the Duhawks topped Dubuque 80-74.