Jan. 11, 2023 – In a game that featured two of the top three scorers in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C), it was the defense that led No. 22 Loras College women's basketball to an emphatic rivalry victory over the University of Dubuque on Wednesday night.

The Duhawks (12-3, 5-1 A-R-C) pulled away from the Spartans (9-6, 3-3 A-R-C) for a 63-39 win in the first home event for Loras in the 2023 academic year. In front of a packed house at Lillis Court, the Duhawks held the Spartans to a new season-low point total to claim the first edition of this season's rivalry.

Loras junior guard Sami Martin and Dubuque senior guard Tabria Thomas entered the game as the leading and third-leading scorers in the conference, and while both scored in double figures, neither managed to get going like they typically do.

Thomas led her Spartans with 13 points while Martin tallied 12 points, making her one of two Duhawks to score in double figures. Dubuque scored just six points in the opening quarter before both sides finished with just 10 in the second frame, highlighting the shooting struggles for both teams.

After taking a 10-point lead into the locker room, the Duhawks increased their lead to as many as 22 at the end of the third quarter as senior guard Cierra Bachmann capped the frame with a three-pointer. In the third quarter, Loras shot 50 percent (9-for-18) from the field, including a trio of three-pointers to fully initiate the rout.

Twenty-six points proved to be the largest lead the Duhawks could muster before securing a lopsided 24-point victory. The Duhawks finished with 10 threes, marking just the second time all season that they have made double-digit shots from deep.

Bachmann led the way for the Duhawks with 15 points on a 5-for-9 shooting performance from the field, with four of those makes coming from three-point range. She was followed by Martin's 12 points, seven rebounds, and three assists while sophomore forward Emerson Whittenbaugh and graduate guard Hannah Thiele each came off the bench to record nine points.

Loras has shot the ball well as of late and has proven to be a tough out when the shots are falling, but the defense contributed to the win on Wednesday as much as it has in any win so far this season. Dubuque finished with season-lows in points (39), made field goals (12), and field goal percentage (27.3%) as Loras forced 25 turnovers and came away with seven steals.

The Duhawks turned those 25 Spartan turnovers into a 16-5 advantage in points off turnovers while also pacing Dubuque 13-4 in second chance points and 32-16 in points in the paint.

This convincing home win breaks up a tough stretch for the Duhawks as each of their next three conference games will be on the road, starting with a long trip to Lincoln, Neb. this Saturday, Jan. 14 when they take on Nebraska Wesleyan University at 2 P.M.