DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque women's basketball team used a balanced scoring attack to get the 63-60 win over the Luther College Norse on Wednesday night. Four Spartans scored in double figures, led by 18 points from Christina Simonetti. 

The Spartans got out to a fantastic start in this one, making their first three shots from the field to go up 7-0. The Spartans would later lead 11-2, holding the Norse to just one made basket through the first six and a half minutes of the first quarter. The Norse cut the deficit to five after a quarter of play.

With the Spartans still leading 24-18 in the second quarter, the Spartans would get a quick 6-0 to double their lead to 12 points. The Norse scored the final four points of the quarter as the Spartans held a 30-22 lead at the half. 

Getting her first career start tonight, Claire Nazos opened the second half with a three-pointer. The Norse would hit a three of their own, but Nazos yet again buried a triple to go back up by 11. The Spartans led by as many as 14 in the third quarter after a Taylor Martin triple. The Norse again chipped at the lead and got to within six with 10 minutes to go.

The Norse made five baskets (three triples) in a little over three minutes to begin the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the night. With the Spartans still down 57-54, a Simonetti layup followed by a big-time Martin triple gave the Spartans the lead again at 59-57 with 2:35 to go. 

Simonetti extended the lead to 61-57 with a layup just under a minute left, but the Norse hit another triple to cut the deficit to one with 44 seconds remaining. The Norse had an opportunity to take the lead, but a turnover and a foul sent Avery green to the free throw line with four seconds left. Green's only two points of the night would come from two clutch free throws to give the Spartans a 63-60 lead. One final look for the Norse would be offline as the Spartans get a big time win inside Stoltz.

Simonetti posted her ninth double double fo the season and moved into ninth on the program's single season rebounds list with 230 rebounds. Grace Brumley finished with 15 points off the bench, while Lilly Craig added 12 points, and Martin scored 10 points. Green added seven assists, her second most in a game this season.

As a team, the Spartans shot 45.5% from the field and 40% from beyond the arc. The Spartans won the points in the paint battle as well as points off turnovers, forcing 22 Norse turnovers that proved to be crucial down the stretch. 

Up Next
The Spartans will celebrate senior day on Saturday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. inside Stoltz against the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolves. The game with the Prairie Wolves will be the final game of the season for the Spartans.