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

Dec. 30, 2019 – The No. 23 Loras College women's basketball team (11-1, 2-1 A-R-C) ended the decade with a home court win, defeating the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Pioneers (8-3, 0-0 WIAC) 68-61 in the championship game of the Loras Holiday Tournament on Monday evening.

Kari Fitzpatrick wasted no time getting Loras on the board, scoring a fast break layup off the tip-off and took the ball right back off a steal to score seconds later. A pair of layups for Platteville tied the game in the opening minute and the Pioneers began to build a lead that ended the first quarter with them ahead, 20-16.

The Duhawks tied the score 22-22 with 7:36 left in the half off free throws from Riley Eckhart and Courtney Schnoor. Loras found the groove on offense and a stellar defensive performance by Marissa Schroeder with six rebounds and a blocked shot limited Platteville to only five points to close out the half while scoring 18 to head into the locker room.

Behind nine points from Courtney Schnoor in the third quarter, the Duhawks kept the Pioneers at bay, taking a 53-41 lead going into the fourth quarter. In the final ten minutes, Schroeder scored four points early and Macenzie Kraemer drained a three to extend Loras' lead and although the Pioneers outscored Loras 20-15, the effects of the Duhawks' unrelenting press had taken a toll and proved too much for Platteville. The final free throw by Eckhart sealed the win for Loras, holding off a valiant comeback effort by Platteville for the 68-61 win.

Fitzpatrick led the Duhawks with 14 points and Schnoor added 13 with seven rebounds while Schroeder tallied 12 points with a team-high nine rebounds, seven of which came in the first half. Kraemer had five steals to go with her 12 points.

Loras opens the new year at home on Saturday, Jan. 4 hosting American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) opponent Nebraska Wesleyan University at 2 P.M.