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

Feb. 20, 2021 – The Loras College women's basketball team (3-4, 1-3 A-R-C) pulled together a team effort to honor its seniors Lydia Breunig, Ashley Funk and Paiton Lawrence on Saturday against No. 13 Simpson College Storm (6-0, 5-0 A-R-C), paying testament to the senior classes' grit and determination in a hard-fought battle from start to finish despite falling to the nationally-ranked Storm, 98-91.

Loras got off to a hot start with a 14-0 run to open the game, fueled by sharp shooting from Funk, Megan Murray, Madison Haslow and Sydney Schuler. It took the Storm five minutes to score but the Duhawks continued to pile on points, taking a 15-point led off a layup by Breunig with 1:15 remaining and closing out the first quarter with a 28-18 advantage. Sami Martin kept the scoring going into the second quarter with a jump shot until Simpson rallied back with a 9-0 run, cutting the lead 33-29 with 3:12 left in the half. The Storm continued to push and tied the game 36-36 and a back and forth battle started off a senior play from Breunig to Funk for the finish, but the Storm took the lead heading into the locker room, 43-38.

Martin got things started for Loras in the second half with back-to-back jumpshots before a layup by Allie Brownson sparked a short run for the Duhawks and Schuler drained a three-pointer to take back the lead. Simpson answered back with two layups to take a 52-50 edge, but Murray tied it up with a layup with 4:35 left in the third. Both teams challenged the other for the next two minutes, both vying for the break away run, but the Storm found the momentum to close out the quarter with an 8-1 run in the final minute to lead 69-60.

Haslow wasted no time getting the offense started in the fourth quarter with three pointer off the assist from Breunig, but the Storm continued to push the pace and pull away with a 79-69 lead with just under six minutes to play. Madison Fleckenstein got Loras back in it with a three-pointer and another three from Murray brought the Duhawks within six points with 4:47 remaining, but Simpson held on for the win as time expired.

All five starters scored in double-figures with Martin leading all players with 25 points, Haslow posting 17 points, Funk scoring 13 and Murray tallying 12. Breunig had a team-high five steals and one blocked shot and Fleckenstein added on as well in addition to a team-high four offensive rebounds. Haslow led the team with six defensive rebounds.

Loras returns home to Lillis Court on Monday, Feb. 22 to host Coe College at 5:30 P.M. The links to live video and stats can be found HERE.