Duhawk win at BVU, will host IIAC game Tuesday
Jon Denham, Sports Information Director
February 23, 2008

BOXSCORE

The Loras College women's basketball team needed overtime to knock off Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa on Saturday afternoon. The Duhawks won 98-94 over the Beavers to wrap up the #4 seed and will host a game on Tuesday night in the AWC. Loras ends the regular season at 17-8 overall and 9-7 in the Iowa Conference.

Natalie Pucci and Lindsay Bava once again led the way for Loras in the win, dropping in 30 points in another strong shooting performance from behind the 3-point arc. The senior made seven of her 15 attempts, accounting for 21 of her 30 points. Right behind Pucci was the sophomore, Bava. She scored 29 points, making all 15 of her free throws and adding four three-pointers.

The Duhawks recorded thirteen steals on the day. Bava led the team in that category with four, and Pucci and Lisa Morrissey each recorded three. Makeda Queen started the first game of her college career in the win in place of the under-the-weather Mindy Meyer. Queen scored two points from the free throw line.

Loras held a four point lead with :39 remaining before Katie Ebel of BVU hit a three pointer to keep the Beavers' hopes alive 12 seconds later. Pucci would add one more free throw on the second half of the double bonus to Loras an 86-84 lead with :23 remaining. Aubrey Hauswirth was the short-term hero for BVU, nailing a jumper with :15 left to force overtime. The last second shot by Natalie Pucci was no good and the teams went to overtime.

In the extra frame, the Duhawks scored 12 points to just eight for the Beavers. Hauswirth scored the first basket in the overtime, and the Beavers held the lead for the first three minutes of extra basketball. The lead was down to two points when Pucci hit a three-pointer to give Loras the lead. Bava made four free throws and Sarah Wilson came up with a big block in the final moments to help secure the win for Loras.

With the late start, the seeding had actually already been determined for Loras, even though their opponents had not. When Wartburg knocked off Dubuque, the Duhawks had wrapped up the #4 seed with their eight wins entering the game with Buena Vista. Had BVU won the game over Loras, the teams would have played again on Tuesday. Instead, the Duhawks will host the University of Dubuque on Tuesday in the AWC.