Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Nov. 23, 2019) – The No. 22-ranked Loras College women's basketball team (4-0) denied the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds (2-3) a home-court win on Saturday after Marissa Schroeder and Kari Fitzpatrick sunk four free throws in the final 15 seconds to lift Loras to a 79-76 victory.

The Blugolds challenged the Duhawks early, but a layup from Madison Fleckenstein and a free throw by Riley Echkart tied the game 7-7 halfway through the first quarter. A layup from Eckhart sparked a run for the Duhawks, soon owning an 18-11 lead with 1:26 to play. Eau Claire hit a layup in the final thirty seconds to give the Blugolds a 19-18 edge.

Eau Claire scored within the first three seconds of the second quarter but a three-pointer by Macenzie Kraemer tied the game just two seconds later. Both teams continued to vie for the lead before the half but a layup from Eckhart with one minute to play put Loras ahead by 11 points and a jumper by Lydia Bruenig off the steal as time expired gave Loras a 47-35 lead at the half.

The Duhawks maintained control for much of the third quarter but Eau Claire diligently chipped away at the lead and tied the game 54-54 with 3:15 to play. That did not last long as two free throws and a jumper from Kraemer and a three-pointer by Fitzpatrick in the final ten seconds gave Loras a 65-61 lead with one quarter left to play.

The Blugolds struck first in the fourth quarter but three-pointers from Kraemer and Fleckenstein gave the Duhawks an 11-point cushion with 6:24 remaining.  Eau Claire rallied back to take a one-point, 76-75  lead off a three-pointer with under a minute on the clock. With time of the essence and the ball in the hands of the Duhawks, the Blugolds committed a foul on Schroeder, sending her to the line to sink two free throws and put Loras ahead by one point. Eau Claire missed the next jumper and Fitzpatrick drew the foul to shoot the two at the line and maintain the Duhawks unblemished start to the season.

Schroeder and Kraemer each had 17 points and six rebounds and were a perfect combined 6-6 at the free-throw line. Kraemer, Fitzpatrick and Jessica Coulthard each had three steals and Kraemer had a team-high five assists.

The Duhawks resume action on Tuesday, Nov. 26 as they host the first American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) matchup of the season against Central College. Tipoff inside the Athletic & Wellness Center is set for 5:30 P.M.