FOND DU LAC, Wis. - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team opened up their 2025-26 season with a 74-67 road victory over the Marian University Sabres. A career-high 18-point performance today from Avery Green led the way for the Spartans.

The Spartans started the game off hot with a 7-0 run and held the Sabres without a field goal for almost the first five minutes of the opening quarter. Marian would get back to within a point (10-9), but another Spartans run gave them a 22-16 advantage through the first 10 minutes. 

The Spartans had four huge three-pointers in the second quarter and were able to build their lead to 35-19 with 4:39 before the half. The Spartans held a 15-point lead with 3:38 left in the second quarter after an Avery Green three-pointer, but would not score again the rest of the half as the Sabres went on an 11-0 run to pull within four at the half. 

The Sabres scored the first basket of the second half to pull within two to cap off their 13-0 run, but the Spartans responded immediately with a 10-0 run to go back up 48-36. The Spartans grabbed their largest lead of the game (68-50) in the first few minutes of the fourth quarter, but the Sabres did not go away quietly with one last run late in the game to got them to within 72-67 with 23 seconds left. The Spartans were able to seal the deal with a few late free throws and key stops on defense to open the season with a win. 

Four Spartans finished in double-figures with Green's game-high 18 points, added on with 13 points off the bench from Christina Simonetti, 12 from Ella Gabbert in her collegiate debut, and 11 from Taylor Martin. Grace Brumley finished just shy of a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds. 

The Spartans start the season 1-0 and give first-year head coach Madeline Jansen her first collegiate victory as a head coach. 

Up Next
The Spartans will continue their road trip to open the season next Wednesday night (Nov. 12) at Lakeland University. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. from Woltzen Gymnasium.