Knights women's basketball goes to 14-0

WAVERLY – Wartburg College used a 31-24 second half run to propel themselves to a 51-45 Iowa Conference win over Loras Jan. 12.

The victory moved coach Bob Amsberry's squad to 14-0 overall and 5-0 in conference play. Despite shooting just 36.5 percent from the field, the Knights did get a balanced scoring attack. The junior duo of guard Stephanie Reiter of LaPorte City and forward Terri Dirks of Monticello led the chart with 10 points each, while sophomore forward Maddie Sadecky of Iowa City added nine. Dirks and Reiter also aided in other categories, as Reiter dished out five assists, and Dirks pulled down five rebounds.

The Knights got out to a quick start against the Duhawks, scoring 13 of the game's first 17 points. However, Loras (7-8 overall, 3-3 IIAC) battled back and scored the final 11 points of the first half for a 21-20 halftime edge. The visitors managed to extend the lead to five early in the second stanza before a 15-4 run from the home side from 15:16 to 10:17 marks gave the Orange and Black the lead for good.

Wartburg continues league play Saturday, Jan. 15, with a key league trip to Coe. The Knights and Simpson lead the Kohawks by one game atop the standings. Tip-off is 2 p.m. inside Eby Fieldhouse on Coe's campus in Cedar Rapids.

NOTES – Dirks, who had entered the night with a hot hand, continued to impress. Her scoring average is up over a point (4.9-6), and her rebounding average is up seven-tenths (2.1-2.8) over the last four games. … Wartburg earned two poll recognitions prior to Wednesday's game. They were listed No. 22 on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association/ESPN/USA Today Division III top 25 and received 46 ranking votes from D3Hoops.com which would put them No. 29.