Spartans Stumble in Loss to Loras
Jan 3, 2018
CeCe Pope fights for the loose ball on Wednesday night, she led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points.
DUBUQUE, Iowa – A slow second quarter, in which the Spartans were outscored 22-8, doomed the University of Dubuque women’s basketball team on Wednesday night, falling 73-59 to crosstown rival Loras College.
The Spartans got off to a hot start in game, going on a 9-2 run midway through the first quarter to build a 17-8 lead. That nine point lead would be their largest lead of the game and the Spartans would take a 19-13 lead into the second quarter. Loras outscored UD 22-8 in the second quarter and UD surrendered a 10-2 run to begin the quarter and a 9-0 to finish the quarter.
UD kept the game within striking distance in the third quarter and even had the deficit cut to 37-35 with 4:51 remaining in the third and within six points with under a minute remaining but Loras scored five points in the final 32 seconds of the third frame to extend their lead to 11. The Spartans once again had the Duhawks within six points with 6:58 remaining in the game but Loras answered with a 8-0 run over the next three minutes to put the game out of reach for the Spartans.
Cece Pope led the Spartans in scoring with 11 points and was the lone Spartan to reach double figures in that category. Lexi Daniels and Josie Thomas each had nine points and all of their points came on three pointers, combining to make six of UD’s eight three pointers. Morgan Boer led the way in rebound for UD, hauling in seven while also scoring seven points.
The Spartans outscored the Duhawks 18-10 in points off turnovers after forcing Loras into 21 turnovers while UD only turned the ball over 14 times. Five difference Spartans recorded steals with Abbey Meyer and Cece Pope both grabbing two each. UD shot 31.3% from the field with 32 of their 62 field goal attempts coming from beyond the arc. Loras shot 41.4% (24-58 ) from the field in the game.
The Spartans are off this weekend before returning home on January 10th to host the Buena Vista University Beavers.
