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

GREENCASTLE, Ind. (Mar. 7, 2020) – After making history 24 hours prior, the No. 13-ranked Loras College women's basketball team (25-4) rewrote the history book yet again with an upset-victory against a familiar NCAA Division III tournament foe as the Duhawks upset No. 4-ranked DePauw University on Saturday, 71-60, to advance Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

"We came ready to play today and I am really proud of this team for executing our plan," said head coach Justin Heinzen. "It was the best we've been. They earned it tonight."

DePauw took the lead but a layup by Courtney Schnoor and a three-pointer by Madison Fleckenstein tied the game 5-5 with 6:44 left in the first quarter. The Tigers ended a three-minute drought with a pair of free throws to lead by five until another layup by Schnoor and two shots by Kari Fitzpatrick put Loras ahead, 11-10. Marissa Schroeder extended the lead 13-10 with 1:45 left in the quarter and drew the foul to shoot the free throw for a four-point lead. DePauw tied the game with 13 seconds left in the quarter off a pair of free throws, but Schroeder had the last say with a layup as time expired.

Schroeder helped open the second quarter for the Duhawks with a layup before knocking in a pair of free throws for a 20-16 lead with 8:15 left in the half. The Duhawks settled into a groove with a high-paced and lethal offense beyond the arc after Macenzie Kraemer drained two three-pointers to grow the lead, 26-18 and Riley Eckhart hit a three-pointer with 1:25 on the clock, sending Loras into the locker room with a 40-31 lead.

Both teams kept it close in the third quarter, limiting each other to 11 points, but five points from Kraemer and two free throws by Fitzpatrick helped Loras hold the lead going into the final ten minutes. The Duhawks showed no signs of letting up in the fourth quarter, taking a 16-point lead off two free throws by Schroeder with 2:07 remaining. DePauw answered back with five points to make it a ten-point game but it was going to be too little too late for the Tigers as the Duhawks came away with a historic win to upset the No. 4-ranked hosts and advance to the Sweet 16.

"It was a battle all game and we respect [DePauw] for everything they've done and who they are," said Heinzen. "We knew if we didn't space them on the floor, beating them was going to be really hard. They got their hands on a bunch of tips and they are a really strong defensive team."

Schroeder led the team with 19 points and nine rebounds while Kraemer tallied 16 points and Fitzpatrick scored 13. Kraemer paced the team with four three-pointers, shooting 4-9 beyond the arc, and both she and Schroeder were perfect for free throws.

The Duhawks will take a week to prepare for a second matchup against the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Friday, Mar. 13. The last meeting between the two teams was on Nov. 16, 2019 when Loras defeated the Titans 88-83 in overtime. Game time and site will be announced later.