Turnovers Plague Women's Basketball in Rare Loss
Jan 14, 2016
Box Score
PELLA, Iowa - Despite a season-best 18 points by senior Molly Richardson, the University of Dubuque women's basketball team fell, 73-64, and couldn't overcome Central's 27 points off turnovers in first defeat to Dutch since 2007.
The Spartans (5-9, 0-3 Iowa Conference) took control early with a 10-point lead in the first quarter, but the turnovers piled up as the offense produced eight points in the second period. After facing a 36-28 deficit at the break, UD was kept at bay in the second half despite canning 7 of 12 (58.3%) three-pointers.
Richardson had the hot hand after finishing 6-for-8 from the three-point line en route to an efficient 10 of 18 shooting performance by the Spartans from deep. The Spartans, normally adept at getting to the free throw line, attempted just four shots from the charity stripe and saw Central (3-10, 1-2 Iowa Conference) capitalize with 27 points off 21 UD turnovers compared to seven points off 10 Central miscues for the Spartans.
Starter Emily Brinker racked up 20 points for the second time in three IIAC games and snagged a game-high 11 rebounds, while Allie Biermeier posted all of UD's 11 points off the bench.
The Dutch were paced by a career-high 31 points from reserve Emily Dine and her seven three-pointers as Central's bench outscored UD's, 38-11.
It was the first time Head Coach Mark Noll suffered defeat to Central during his tenure and is now 16-1 against the Dutch. The Spartans came into today's game on a 16-game winning streak with an margin of victory of 11.9 points. The Spartans dropped to 27-40 in the all-time series.
UD will visit Simpson this Saturday, January 16 at 2:00 p.m. The Storm (9-5, 2-1 IIAC) handled Loras, 81-53, on Wednesday night.
