Spartans Down IIAC Leaders
Feb 12, 2014 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Women's Basketball team took down the Iowa Conference leading Loras College Duhawks on Wednesday night. The Spartans 57-51 victory on Jon Davison Court inside Stoltz Sports Center was the first loss of the conference season for Loras (15-7, 10-1 IIAC). The UD starters accounted for 53 points with Jenna Kotas (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew) leading the way with 18 points. UD held Loras scoreless for the final 4:13. Dubuque improves to 14-8 overall and 7-4 in the IIAC.
The UD victory clinched the Spartans a spot in the IIAC Tournament for the fifth straight year. Dubuque has been in the tournament six of seven years under head coach Mark Noll. Coach Noll is now at 98 career wins and 53 IIAC wins, both tops in UD Women's Basketball history.
The Spartans came out firing from beyond the arc with three three-pointers in the first five minutes as UD led 13-3. Kotas accounted for nine points and two three-pointers early. Loras responded with a 16-0 run to take a three point lead before Kayla Springer (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) hit her second three of the game to tie the game at 16-16 with 11:00 minutes left in the first half. The first half featured four lead changes and four tied game situations as the teams went into halftime tied at 29-29. Kotas led all scorers in the first half with 12 of her game high 18 points.
| IIAC Standings | ||
| School | IIAC | ALL |
| Loras | 10-1 | 15-7 |
| Simpson | 9-2 | 14-8 |
| Coe | 8-3 | 13-9 |
| Dubuque | 7-4 | 14-8 |
| Buena Vista | 4-7 | 10-12 |
| Luther | 2-9 | 11-11 |
| Central | 2-9 | 10-12 |
| Wartburg | 2-9 | 8-14 |
A game of runs, Loras started the second half with an 11-3 run over the first 7:34 to take a 40-32 lead. UD immediately responded with a 10-4 run of their own to cut deficit to two points with 10:22 left in the game. Four straight points by Stephany Remakel (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) and a free throw by Jessica Goetz (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead) tied the game at 47-47 with 7:20 left. Remakel finished with seven points, seven rebounds, and tied her career high with six blocks.
All five Spartan starters scored at least seven points with Kotas and Springer reaching double figures with 18 and 13 respectively. Meggie Schmidt (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) scored eight while Remakel and Goetz finished with seven points. Each of the starters also played at least 29 minutes with Kotas, Schmidt, and Springer playing the entire second half.
The UD defense held Loras to one field goal in the final nine minutes of the game. The lone field goal came with 4:13 left that tied the game at 51-51 and would be the last points of the game for the Duhawks. The Spartans closed out the game on a 7-0 run with Springer making 3-4 from the free throw line. Springer also had a team high four steals to go with five defensive rebounds.
Goetz finished with a team high eight rebounds (two-offensive/six-defensive) and four assists. Goetz recorded one steal upping her season total to 58, tops in the Iowa Conference.
| Single Season Steals Leaders at UD | |||
| 1) | Tina Felderman | 80 | 1996-97 |
| 2) | Beth Shepard | 73 | 1992-93 |
| 3) | Dana Kester | 71 | 2002-03 |
| 4) | Jessica Goetz | 58 | 2013-14 |
| 5) | Multiple tied with | 54 | |
UP NEXT: The Spartans will play their final regular season home game on Saturday, February 15th versus Central College (10-12, 2-9 IIAC). Game time in Stoltz Sports Center is 2:00 pm. Between games, seniors Heather Chapman (Ingleside, Ill./Grant), Jennifer Fischer (Deerfield, Wis./Deerfield), and Stephany Remakel will be honored as part of Senior Day activities.
LIVE Video with Tim Lary on the call and Stats available at: UD-Women's Basketball Online
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports
