DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque women's basketball team traveled down the road for a non-conference game at Loras College on Saturday afternoon, where they would fall to the Duhawks, 97-71.

Morgan Meerstein and Tabria Thomas scored two of the three first baskets of the game to give UD a 4-2 lead two minutes in. However, a Loras three pointer thirty seconds later sparked a 11-0 run for the Duhawks and the Spartans would never lead again. After falling behind by 20 points at halftime, the Spartans continued to battle in the second half, playing the third quarter even with each team scoring 19 points and only being outscored by six in the fourth quarter.
 
Miah Smith and Jordan Fischer led the Spartans with 11 points each, while Smith and freshman Karsen Kershner each hauled in a team-high five rebounds.
 
The Spartans continued to dominate their opponents in the paint, outscoring the Duhawks 40-28 in the paint. The UD bench had a solid showing, scoring 37 points over the final three quarters of action.

Next up for the Spartans is another non-conference game against another American Rivers Conference school when they travel to Wartburg College on Tuesday, Jan. 19^th at 7:00 p.m.