Box Score WAVERLY, Iowa – (11/22/22) The University of Dubuque women's basketball team began conference play tonight as they traveled to face the Knights of Wartburg College. In a highly contested game, extra minutes were needed to determine a winner. Eventually, the Spartans lost to Wartburg 78-72 in overtime.
 
The Spartans started the game utilizing the attack off the dribble scoring 12 of the 17 first quarter points in the paint. Senior, Kathleen Mathias led the Spartans with six points early on to give the Spartans a 17-6 advantage before the Knights cut the deficit to 17-14 at the end of the first quarter.

Wartburg College captured the lead early on in the second quarter as they shot 53% from the field extending their largest lead of the game by a score of 34-26. With a few seconds left before the end of the half, freshman Mia Miller dribbled the length of the court and banked in a buzzer beater three from the wing as time expired. The Spartans went into halftime trailing 34-29. Senior, Tabria Thomas provided a spark for the offense leading the Spartans with 10 points.

Morgan Hawkins established her presence early in the third quarter. Hawkins hit a three in the corner and then converted on two and-one's scoring nine consecutive points for the Spartans forcing the Knights into a timeout as they led 45-38. The Spartans continued to chip away at the lead as Miller hit back-to-back jump shots to end the quarter trailing 54-48.

Entering the final quarter, the Spartans capitalized from beyond the arc. Sophomore, Isabella Tierney drained a three tying the game at 54-54. The Spartans captured their first lead of the game since the first quarter thanks to back-to-back threes from Hawkins and Tierney extending the lead to 60-54. Late in the fourth, the Knights rallied to tie the game at 68-68. Wartburg maintained the final possession as Tierney came up with a huge block forcing overtime.

Neither team shot well in overtime, but free throws were the difference maker. Wartburg got to the line 8 times, going 7-8 while the Spartans did not attempt any free throws. The Spartans were outscored 10-4 in overtime and fell to Knights by a score of 78-72.

Hawkins had a career night from the field, scoring 28 points, going 3-4 from three and grabbed 12 rebounds on her way to a double-double. Miller scored 11 points while Thomas finished with 10. As a team the Spartans shot 41% from the floor, 40% from three, and out rebounded the Knights by eight with 48 boards. The back-and-forth contest saw five ties and four lead changes.
 
Up Next
The Spartans return home over Thanksgiving break with a non-conference matchup against Cornell College on Saturday, November 26th. The game is set for tip-off at 5:00 p.m. in the Stoltz Sports Center.