DECORAH, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team scored first on Wednesday night en route to a 68-48 victory over the Luther College Norse.

Two and a half minutes into the game, the Spartans were the first to score when Allison Bailey sank a jumper off an assist by Kathleen Mathias. UD held the Norse in check and they wouldn't score until 5:13 of the first quarter. They would allow just one more basket in the first at 1:12 to extend their lead to 18-4 after the opening quarter. The Norse rallied in the second and out scored the Spartans 29-14  to capture a slim 33-32 lead.

The halftime speech by the assistants inspired the Spartans who scored 18 points in each of the third and fourth quarters while the Spartan defense held the Norse to 11 points in the third and a mere four points in the final quarter of action. UD sank 27-67 (40.3%) from the field, 4-9 from the three point line (44.4%), and were perfect at the free throw line 10-10. UD was out rebounded by the Norse 43-34. The Spartans forced the Norse into committing 31 turnovers and converted them into 32 points.

UD's offense was led by Tabria Thomas who was 9-12 from the field, 1-2 from three point arc, and 5-5 at the free throw line to finish with 24 points. Miah Smith was 7-14 from the field and 3-3 from free throw area to end with 17 points and she led the Spartans with 10 rebounds. Isabella Tierney came off the bench to sink 4-8 shot attempts including 3-4 from beyond the three point arc to collect 11 points a five assists. Kathleen Mathias found the open shooter six times to finish with six assists and eight steals. UD dominated the paint and finished the night scoring 44 points in the lane.

The Spartans continue American Rivers Conference play when they travel to Pella, Iowa to face the Dutch on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2 p.m. UD will continue the road schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Wartburg at 5:30 p.m.