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

Feb. 27, 2021 – A third-quarter comeback quest by the opponent did not stymie the Loras College women's basketball team (5-5, 3-4 A-R-C) on Saturday as the Duhawks rallied with a strong fourth-quarter performance to secure a home-court 76-64 win against the Buena Vista University Beavers (2-6, 2-6 A-R-C) on Saturday.

The Duhawks took an early 13-2 lead in the first quarter thanks to three-pointers from Cierra Bachmann and Sydney Schuler as well as layups from Sami Martin and Alli Udelhofen. The Beavers kept the Duhawks from scoring in the final three minutes of the first quarter and continued the momentum into the second, pulling within two, 17-15, with 6:27 left in the half. Bachmann hit another three-pointer and Martin and Funk followed with layups to extend the lead, 26-19 with 3:30 remaining. Buena Vista looked to get something going before the break and came within three points, 30-27, with 1:25 left, but back-to-back steals from Megan Murray gave Loras back possession and the Duhawks capitalized to take a 36-29 lead heading into halftime.

The Duhawks brought the energy back to the court out of the locker room, taking back a 12-point lead off three-pointers from Madison Haslow, Ashley Funk, Schuler with 6:44 on the clock. Buena Vista responded back with an 8-0 run over the next three minutes but Loras answered with seven-straight points to lead 56-45 with 2:46 in the third. The Beavers closed out the third quarter with seven points, giving both teams 23 points for the quarter, and looked to make a run in the fourth, but three-pointers by Madison Fleckenstein and Schuler extended Loras' lead, 70-56, with 5:31 left to play. Four more points for Martin helped the Duhawks build a 16-point cushion in the final three minutes, denying a late comeback attempt for the Beavers to win the game, 76-64.

Martin led the offense with 7 points and shared the lead with Haslow for rebounds with seven each. Bachmann scored 11 points, shooting 75 percent for three, and lent a hand with three assists. Martin came away with five steals and the Duhawks had four players come up with one block in Martin, Flenckenstein, Murray and Jessica Coulthard.

The Duhawks finish American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) regular season action on Wednesday, Mar. 3 at No.4-ranked Wartburg College. Tip-off in Waverly is set for 5:30 P.M. The first rounds of the A-R-C Tournament begin on Mar. 8.