WAVERLY, Iowa (Jan. 18, 2023) – The top two teams in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) standings matched up with each other on Wednesday as the 21^st-ranked Loras College women's basketball team fell 63-51 on the road at (RV) Wartburg College.

The Duhawks (13-4, 6-2 A-R-C) gave it their best shot but couldn't hit enough shots in the second half to keep pace with the Knights (13-4, 8-0 A-R-C), who remain unbeaten in conference play after the win. The win also marks the fourth in a row for the Knights in the series.

The two sides stayed tight throughout the first half as the largest lead for either side was just six points, a lead that Wartburg took into the locker room. Both sides shot the ball well early as they combined for seven three-pointers in the first quarter.

There were six lead changes in the first half despite some less-than-stellar ball security from the Duhawks. In the first 20 minutes, Loras turned the ball over 11 times while making 10 field goals. Even with 11 turnovers to Wartburg's seven, the Duhawks limited the Knights to just seven points off turnovers and outscored the Knights 3-2 in the fast break.

The Knights came out hot in the third quarter and pulled away from the Duhawks by shooting 60 percent (9-for-15) from the field, including a trio of three-pointers.

Loras outscored the Knights 14-11 in the final quarter despite falling behind by as many as 20 earlier in the frame. The Duhawks ultimately couldn't string enough shots together in the second half to keep pace as the Knights held them to a mere 30.8 shooting percentage from the field (20-for-65).

That final shooting total marks the lowest for the Duhawks in a game all season. Their 6-for-31 output (19.4%) also marks the second-lowest three-point total for the team on the season.

Another factor that hurt the Loras cause was the lack of whistles in the game as only 20 personal fouls were called in the entire game with just nine called against the Knights. Despite making all five attempts, those five trips to the line mark the fewest in a game this season for the Duhawks, who are tied for the best free throw percentage in the conference (74.6%).

Senior guard Cierra Bachmann tallied 18 points and nine rebounds on Wednesday, pacing the Duhawks in both categories. She connected on three of her seven three-point attempts while adding three steals, tying junior guard Sami Martin for the team lead in that category.

Martin was the only other Duhawk in double figures as she finished with 10 points and eight rebounds.

Loras has another road game this weekend as it travels to play Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 2 P.M.