DUBUQUE, Iowa - The final home game before the new year for the University of Dubuque women's basketball team was against the Washington University of St. Louis (WashU) Bears on Saturday afternoon. The Bears were able to hold the lead throughout a majority of the game against the Spartans winning by a final score of 54-63. 

Both teams started the game cold shooting the ball as the score stood at 3-3 halfway through the first quarter. Both teams would be knotted at 11-11 with two minutes to go and go scoreless the rest of the quarter. In the second quarter the Bears built their lead as big as five before the Spartans saw a brief lead 25-23 with 37 seconds left, but the Bears held a 25-26 lead at the break. 

Opening the third quarter, it felt as though the Bears were starting to build momentum with a seven point lead, but a pair of three pointers by Makenzie Knapp and Karsen Kershner got the Spartans to within one at 31-32. The Bears were able to regain a six point advantage at the end of the third quarter. In the final quarter the Bears were able to extend their lead even further and ended the game. 

Nine Spartans got into the scoring column today as Isabella Tierney recorded 13 points on 5-11 shooting including two three pointers in the final minutes of the game to lead the Spartans. The Spartans shot 21-50 (42.0%) from the field and made seven three pointers collectively as a team. The struggle was at the free throw line as the Spartans shot 45.5% from the line. 

The Spartans move to 5-4 overall on the season. 

Up Next
The Spartans will have a week off for finals before returning to the court on December 18 at 6:00 p.m. at Concordia University (Wis.) in Mequon, Wis.