Contact: Mark Johnson, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7243

Feb. 29, 2020 – The No. 11 Loras College women's basketball team (23-4, 13-3 A-R-C) came up short in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Tournament Championship game against rival No. 8 Wartburg College by a final score of 67-54. 
 
The Duhawks got on the board first with back-to-back three-point baskets from Macenzie Kraemer and Kari Fitzpatrick. With 7:58 left in the quarter, Wartburg scored a jump shot before a defensive battle ensued as nearly four minutes passed on the game clock before either team scored a basket. Marissa Schroeder gave the Duhawks a 12-9 advantage after knocking down a three-point basket with 2:20 seconds remaining in the quarter. The Knights answered Schroeder's basket with seven straight points of their own to end the quarter ahead 16-12.
 
The second quarter contained more excitement offensively as Schnoor got things started for the Duhawks with two free throws. The Knights answered by going on a 5-0 run to extend their lead to 12 points halfway through the second quarter. Schroeder scored a layup for the Duhawks just before Fitzpatrick made two free throws to cut the Knights lead to just ten points. Loras finished the quarter on a high note going on an 11-0 run with baskets from Fitzpatrick, Schroeder and Ashley Funk ending the half with the Knights still up 32-29. 
 
The Duhawks started the second half off with a quick bucket from Fitzpatrick but the Knights responded with two of their own and a free-throw to extend their lead to six points. The Duhawks kept chipping away at the Knights' lead cutting it to one point with 5:54 remaining in the third quarter but Wartburg continued to pull out ahead ending the quarter ahead 50-39. The fourth quarter began with two free throws from Loras but the Knights much like the first three quarters continued to keep the Duhawks at bay. The Duhawks kept constant pressure on the Knights but struggled late in the game allowing Wartburg to pull away ending the game with a final score of 67-54.
 
Schroeder led the Duhawks in scoring and rebounds as she secured a double-double scoring 16 points while snagging 12 rebounds. Fitzpatrick tallied 15 points while Riley Eckhart was the third leading scorer with seven points. 
 
The Duhawks are looking to secure an at large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second year in a row as the tournament teams will be announced on Monday, March 2 at 2:30 (ET) on NCAA.com.