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

Jan. 19, 2022 – The Loras College women's basketball team (11-5, 5-2 A-R-C) dominated No. 13-ranked Wartburg College (13-2, 6-1 A-R-C) early in the contest and finished on top in multiple statistical categories in a fiery and fast-paced American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) matchup on Wednesday but the Knights' third-quarter push and one final possession ultimately held for the win as the Duhawks dropped an 84-82 decision.

The first points of the game came off a pair of free throws by Madison Fleckenstein and Sydney Schuler drained a three-pointer on the next possession to put Loras ahead 5-0 to start. Madison Haslow extended the lead with a three-pointer of her own to extend the lead, 10-2 with 7:29 left in the first quarter, but Wartburg went on a 7-0 run to pull within one halfway through the first quarter. Jaime Ryan and Hannah Thiele scored back-to-back three-pointers to put the Duhawks back in command before Haslow added another with 3:21 remaining to give Loras back the eight-point lead. The Knights made a last effort to challenge in the final two minutes but Martin, Haslow and Fleckenstein combined for a 6-0 run to close out the first ten minutes ahead 26-14. The Duhawks opened the game shooting 62 percent from three-point range and 64 percent from the field while the Knights mustered 28 percent from downtown and 31 percent from the field.

Wartburg whittled away at Loras' lead to start the second quarter, coming within six points off a three-pointer with 6:18 left in the half. A three-pointer by Ryan with five minutes on the clock helped kickstart a run with Emerson Whittenbaugh, Daniella Jarrell and Haslow teaming up to give Loras a 45-32 lead with 2:11 remaining. The Knights tried to close the gap with one minute remaining but Cierra Bachmann hit Martin with a full-court pass for the fastbreak layup with 20 seconds left in the half to send Loras into the break ahead 50-40.

The Knights found their rhythm in the third quarter and took their first lead of the game with 5:45 on the clock off a three-pointer. A layup by Martin brought Loras back within two with 3:41 to go but the Knights finished out the final two and a half minutes with a 9-2 run to lead 69-63 heading into the fourth quarter. A layup by Martin helped start the final ten minutes off in favor of the Duhawks and with 6:24 left in the game, Schuler hit a three-pointer to tie the game and Jarrell followed up with a layup to take back a 77-75 lead. Wartburg tied it up on the next possession before free throws by Fleckenstein put Loras back on top with 4:22 but took back the lead off a three-pointer two minutes later. Haslow tied it once again on her fourth three-pointer of the night with six seconds remaining but the Knights broke away with two seconds to go for a layup and escaped with the narrow victory.

Martin posted her fourth double-double of the season with a team-high 8 points and 15 rebounds while Fleckenstein and Haslow each added 14 points. Haslow and Schuler, who scored 12 points, both made four three-pointers and Haslow also had a team-best five assists. As a team, the Duhawks grabbed 40 rebounds to Wartburg's 29 and shot 49 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range, and 75 percent from the line to hold the edge against the Knights but Wartburg limited their turnovers which proved enough to provide a critical possession at the end of the game.

The Duhawks are back at Lillis Court on Saturday, Jan. 22 to celebrate Senior Day with more A-R-C action against Buena Vista University. Senior recognition will begin prior to tip-off at 2 P.M.