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

WAVELY, Iowa (Feb. 24, 2022) – For the second-straight matchup against the foe, the Loras College women's basketball team (19-8, 12-4 A-R-C) challenged the No. 18-ranked Wartburg College Knights (21-4, 13-3 A-R-C) in the first half of the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Semifinal game, but the Knights rebounded in the second half to take the lead and hold out to win 68-54, ending the Duhawks' tournament run.

The Duhawks took command of the game early as two three-pointers by Hannah Thiele put them up 12-5 four minutes into the game. The Knights responded back with a three of their own but Thiele gave it right back to regain the seven-point lead. Sami Martin and Madison Fleckenstein put the Duhawks up 19-10 with 1:20 left in the first quarter and Fleckenstein added a layup in the final seconds to give Loras a 21-13 lead after ten minutes of play. Wartburg opened the second quarter with a pair of free throws by a layup by Madison Haslow and another three-pointer for Thiele put the Duhawks ahead 26-15 with 7:52 left in the half. Haslow and Fleckenstein hit a pair of three-pointers to keep the Knights in check midway through the quarter but Wartburg went on a 12-3 run to close out the half and cut into Loras' lead, trailing by five heading into the break.

The Knights came out with a vengeance in the third quarter, making three three-pointers I nthe first two minutes to take the lead, 45-41. A three-pointer by Fleckenstein put Loras back in front, 46-45, with 5:40 to play in the third but the Knights limited the Duhawks' scoring opportunities and found a burst to take a 56-48 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Loras looked to get something going on offense but the Knights had settled into their rhythm for the final ten minutes and limited the Duhawks to only six points, all of which were scored by Cierra Bachmann, and pulled away to secure the win.

Fleckenstein led the team with 14 points and was the lone Duhawk to go to the free throw line, shooting 2-2 on the night. Martin added 12 points as did Thiele with a team-high four three-pointers and Bachmann scored 11 points. Madison Haslow had a team-high nine rebounds while Martin led the way with three steals. Both teams were nearly even with their shooting but the Knights held the edge shooting 35 percent from three-point range and only committed four fouls on the night, 16 turnovers and came away with 12 steals.