Spartans Take Iowa Conference Opener vs. Wartburg
Jan 8, 2014 | J.Crane
DUBUQUE, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Women's Basketball team held on late to win its Iowa Conference (IIAC) opener on Wednesday night in Stoltz Sports Center. The Spartans led by as many as 18 points in the second half in the 61-59 victory against the Knights of Wartburg College (6-6, 0-1). UD held Wartburg to 26.6% shooting from the field. Dubuque improves to 8-4 overall and 1-0 in the IIAC.
With shots not falling on the offensive end of the court, UD turned up the pressure on the defensive side of the court by forcing Wartburg to a season low 26.6% field goal percentage and blocking 11 shots. As the clock wound down, Spartans center Stephany Remakel (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) blocked two Wartburg shots in the lane with under 12 seconds remaining in the game and pulled down the final rebound of the game to clinch the victory for UD.
Dubuque used an even scoring attack with Adrianna Stephens (Madison, Wis./LaFollette) leading the way with 11 points and five assists. Kayla Springer (Altoona, Wis./Altoona) led the UD starters with nine points while Jessica Goetz (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead) and Heather Chapman (Ingleside, Ill./Grant) each scored eight points.
The Spartans and Knights stayed close in the first half before UD opened up a 10 point lead to end the half at 33-23 on a three-pointer by Goetz. Wartburg took its only lead of the game with 6:11 remaining in the first half at 12-11 on a Knight three-pointer. Dubuque held a 18-10 advantage in bench points in the first half.
A three by Brittany Collier (Oswego, Ill./Oswego) gave UD its biggest lead of the game at 51-33 and capped a 7-0 run with 10:34 left in the second half. Wartburg immediately answered back with nine straight points of their own to begin chipped away at the Dubuque lead. A Wartbug layup with 2:22 cut the UD lead to two points but it would be the Knights last field goal of the game as they missed their last five shots with Remakel blocking three of them in the last minute.
Goetz finished with a team high 10 rebounds to go with eight points, three blocks, and two steals. Meggie Schmidt (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) led the Spartans with four steals.
UP NEXT: The Spartans hit the road on Saturday, January 11th against Central College (6-5) at 2:00 pm.
LIVE Video and Stats available at: UD-Central --- Women's Basketball
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports
