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

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Dec. 11, 2021) – After having played two top-25 teams at home this season, the Loras College women's basketball team (5-3, 2-1 A-R-C) took to the road for another nationally-ranked matchup on Saturday against the No. 3 University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire (9-1, 2-0 WIAC) but could not come back from a big first half for the Blugolds as the Duhawks fell 66-49.

The Duhawks kept it close with the top-five team in the opening minutes with Sami Martin and Madison Fleckenstein tying it early but found a late surge to go up 15-8 with 3:18 left in the first quarter and closed with a three-pointer to lead 20-13 after the first ten minutes. The Blugolds extended the lead in the second quarter but Cierra Bachmann fired off a three-pointer to capitalize on a steal by Sydney Schuler. Eau Claire took its first double-digit lead of the game with 6:15 to play but the Duhawks worked to erase much of it, starting with a layup by Fleckenstein and followed with layups by Martin and Bachmann cut the score 29-24 with 4:44 left in the half. The Blugolds found momentum again to close out the half with an 11-point run to take control with a 40-24 advantage.

Martin and Bachmann helped the Duhawks open the second half with some momentum but the Blugolds kept their distance, still holding a 44-28 lead with 5:56 left in the third. Schuler drained a three-pointer with just over three minutes on the clock but neither team had much success on offense as the Duhawks only posted nine points and held Eau Claire to ten in both teams' lowest scoring quarter. The Blugolds rebounded with a strong final ten minutes, despite a six-point run to close out the game from Martin and a three-pointer for Hannah Thiele as Eau Claire came away with the win.

Martin led the team with 17 points, shooting 7-13 from the field, and had a team-high nine rebounds and Fleckenstein posted double-digit scoring with 13 points. Schuler and Fleckenstein both added steals and Fleckenstein grabbed five boards.

Loras will jet off to St. Petersburg, Fla. for a pair of games at Eckerd College, playing Washington and Lee University on Dec. 19 at 7 P.M (ET) and York College (Pa.) on Dec. 20 at 3 P.M. (ET).