WAVERLY, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team hit the road for an A-R-C Semifinal showdown at #1 Wartburg College Knights on Thursday night. A defensive battle took place inside Levick Arena as neither team shot the ball effectively. At half the Spartans trailed by 12 but put the pressure on the Knights by cutting the deficit to three (45-42) with a minute left. As time expired the Spartans fell just short losing 46-42.

Morgan Hawkins scored the game's first points as she swished a mid-range jumper in the paint for the early lead. After Wartburg was unable to execute on their first possession, the Knights rattled off a 12-0 run forcing the Spartans into a timeout halfway through the first quarter. Samantha McDonald stopped the run with a layup as Wartburg maintained a 19-11 lead at the end of the first.

The Spartans struggled to find the bottom of the net as they entered a seven minute scoreless stretch until Felicity Figlinski connected from three point range. Wartburg extended their lead to 16 (30-14) but a pair of free throws from Madi Petersen and a last second layup from Hawkins brought the Spartans back within 12 (30-18) at the break.

In the third quarter both teams combined for a total of three made field goals. A majority of the points were scored from the free throw line as the Spartans converted on 9-14 free throws attempts in the third cutting the deficit to single digits (38-29) entering the final quarter of play.

The Spartans shook off the third quarter shooting woes as they shot over 40% in the fourth quarter. With three minutes remaining the Spartans trailed by nine but Megan Teal hit a clutch three pointer inching the Spartans closer 45-39. After a few costly turnovers and a pair of missed free throws from Wartburg, Tabria Thomas brought the Spartans within three (45-42) connecting from beyond the arc. With a minute left, the Spartans got the stop they needed and maintained possession looking to tie the game. In the final seconds Karsen Kershner got a look from three but was off the mark as the Spartans lost 46-42.

Hawkins led the Spartans on both ends of the court with a team high 10 points and 11 rebounds posting her third double-double of the season. Teal and Thomas finished with nine points each while the freshman duo McDonald and Figlinksi added five points each. The Spartans shot 27% from the field and 60% from the charity strip in the loss. 

The Spartans finished the season with a 16-11 record overall and 9-7 in conference play for a fourth place finish. Seniors Tabria Thomas, Megan Teal, Karsen Kershner, Makenzie Knapp, and Megan Boby's careers have come to a close. Thomas will go down as one of the most decorated women's basketball players to don the Spartans jersey.