Contact: Mark Johnson, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications 

Jan. 4, 2020 – Opening the 2020 portion of the schedule at home, the No. 23 Loras College women's basketball team (12-1, 3-1 A-R-C) defeated American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) opponent Nebraska Wesleyan University (5-6, 2-2 A-R-C) 102-74 in the fourth A-R-C game of the year.

The Duhawks took the lead in the first quarter with a quick layup by Kari Fitzpatrick and never looked back. Loras secured a seventeen-point lead with 1:21 left in the first quarter by a quick steal and layup from Mackenzie Kraemer. However, the Prairie Wolves answered at the end of the quarter with a three-point shot from their leading scorer Caitlin Navratil to cut the Duhawk lead to just eleven.

The Duhawks quickly added to their lead with a pair of two-point baskets from Fitzpatrick and Courtney Schnoor. Marissa Schroeder had 11 points in the second quarter which helped extend the Duhawk lead into the locker room, 55-40. The full court press was working well for the Duhawk defense creating 21 turnovers in the first half alone, including six from Kraemer.

Loras kept their foot on the gas at the start of the third quarter stretching their lead to 21 points. The Duhawks found life in the post from Schnoor throughout the game but took advantage of the junior's 6-1 presence, scoring 20 of their 56 points in the paint in the third quarter alone.

Entering the fourth quarter with a commanding lead the Duhawks found another spark from Sydney Schuler who came off the bench and hit two big three-point shots to extend the Duhawk lead to 37 points, the largest of the afternoon. From the opening moments of the game, it was clear the Duhawks came to play, scoring over 100 points for the first time this season and ended the game with a final score of 102-74.

Five Duhawk players finished the game with double figures as Schroeder led the Duhawks in scoring and rebounds with 24 and seven, respectively. Schnoor added 18 points while Kraemer finished the night with 13 of her own and a team high six steals. Madison Fleckenstein had 11 points and Riley Eckhart provided a spark off the bench with 11 points.

Loras looks to score another home A-R-C win on Wednesday, Jan. 8, hosting Buena Vista University at 5:30 PM.