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

Dec. 30, 2021 – The Loras College women's basketball team (8-4, 2-1 A-R-C) kept the intensity for the full forty minutes but fell to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (8-5, 0-2 WIAC) in the final of two games of the Loras Holiday Tournament on Thursday, coming up short in a 70-53 decision.

The Eagles came into the game with momentum after playing a close contest against No. 10-ranked Simpson College the night before but after an early three-pointer by the visitors, the Duhawks tied the game with 6:40 left in the first quarter with a three ball from Jaime Ryan. La Crosse surged ahead with a 9-0 run that put them ahead 12-3 with just under three left on the clock but a three-pointer by Sydney Schuler and a layup by Sami Martin helped stop the run and pull within seven. The Eagles tacked on five more to close out the first ten minutes of play and took a 20-8 lead into the second quarter.

Martin helped the Duhawks start the second quarter with a layup but the Eagles kept the momentum and took a 16-point lead off a three-pointer with 7:04 left in the half. Loras fought to chip away at La Crosse's lead with six points by Martin in the final minute but the Eagles maintained the lead going into the half, up 41-27.

It was a slow start to the second half by both teams but a layup by Madison Fleckenstein at the 8:03 mark stopped the scoring drought. A pair of free throws and a layup by Cierra Bachmann cut into the Eagles' lead, trailing by ten with 2:24 left in the third but La Crosse held on through the third for a 52-39 advantage heading into the final ten minutes. Fleckenstein led the charge in a comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, putting up six of the Duhawks' 16 points but La Crosse had built enough of a lead to fend off Loras' offense and take the 70-53 win.

Martin finished the game with 20 points, with ten coming off free throws, and six rebounds while Fleckenstein also added double digit points with 15 as well as a team-high seven rebounds. She and Emerson Whittenbaugh had two steals apiece and Bachmann lent a hand with three assists.The Duhaws forced 15 turnovers on the Eagles and came away with seven steals for great defensive play but La Crosse's 46 percent shooting from the field helped propel them to victory.

The Duhawks resume American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) play in the new year, hosting Luther College on Jan. 5. Tip-off inside the Patrick J. Lillis Athletic and Wellness Center is set for 5:30 P.M.