Duhawks Advance To Semifinals

Loras 74
Wartburg 66

The Loras College women’s basketball team advanced to the Iowa Conference Tournament semifinals to face #2 seed Simpson College with their 74-66 win over the Wartburg Knights in Waverly on Tuesday night. Senior guard Lindsay Bava led the Duhawks with 26 points, going 5-of-10 from the field and 13-of-14 from the free throw line.

The Duhawks and Knights essentially traded baskets over the first 18 minutes before Loras closed the half on a brief 6-0 run to take a 36-32 lead into halftime. Five players had at least five points in the first half, including freshmen center Melissa Herrmann’s seven points. Wartburg jumped on the back of Abbey Hempen in the opening frame, riding her to the tune of 16 points on 5-of-11 shooting from behind the three point arc.

Herrmann would finish with 10 points, six rebounds, five assists, and four blocks (two in the game’s opening three minutes). Alex Hudson also scored 10 points and added eight rebounds and three steals. Lindsey LaBadie and Lisa Morrissey each added seven points, and Brit Kent and Niki Rivera chipped in with six apiece.

Loras won the rebounding and turnover battles on Tuesday night as well. They never trailed in the second half, opening up an 18-point lead at one point. Hempen finished with 24 points for Wartburg. Katie Zittergruen finished with a double-double (16 points, 11 rebounds).

The Duhawks advance to play the #2 seed Simpson Storm on Saturday and will tipoff at 7:00 pm in Indianola, Iowa. Thursday’s game can be heard live online at duhawks.com beginning at 6:45. This is the second consecutive year Loras has made it to the semifinals.

Duhawks Give Seniors Win in Final Home Game

Loras 79
Luther 60

The Loras College women’s basketball team completed their 2009-10 regular season with a win over the Luther College Norse on Saturday, 79-60.

Freshman center Melissa Herrmann led the Duhawks with 18 points on Saturday afternoon, making six field goals and six free throws on her way to her career high. Herrmann added three blocks and a steal to her top offensive performance in her first season with the Duhawks.

The Duhawks shot 48% from the field and held the Norse to 34%. Loras was +16 in the turnover battle and registered a season high 19 steals in the process. Lindsay Bava, Lindsey LaBadie, and Sarah Pillon also scored in double figures.

Bava scored 16 points and made 4-of-7 three point shots in her final home game. Fellow seniors Mackenzie Roth and Lisa Morrissey, who each started on Saturday, added five points each. The Class of 2010 combined for 26 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and nine steals. Morrissey moved into second place on Loras’ all time assists and steals spots with her five dishes and four steals.

The win put the Duhawks at 12-13 at the end of the regular season and 7-9 (#6 seed) in the Iowa Conference. Loras travels to Waverly, Iowa for their second game in six days against the Knights, the #3 seed. Tipoff is 7:00 PM and can been accessed via the links on the top right hand column of the blog.

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Senior PG Lisa Morrissey featured on LCTV…check it out!

All About the Finish!

Loras 86
Central 66

The Loras College women’s basketball team earned their eleventh win of the season after downing the Central College Dutch in Pella, Iowa 86-66 on Wednesday night. Senior Lindsay Bava and sophomore Lindsey LaBadie set the pace for the Duhawks, with junior Sarah Pillon spreading out her points to help push the Duhawks past the home team.

Bava scored a game high 20 points on 6-of-13 shooting to lead the Duhawks and added eight rebounds. Pillon was 7-of-13 for 18 points. Each guard was 2-of-5 from behind the arc. Lindsey LaBadie came off the bench to player her best game in a Loras uniform, attacking the basket in transition, finishing with 16 points. LaBadie made four of her seven shots from the field and converted 8-of-11 free throws. She finished with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal in just 17 minutes of action. Brit Kent came off the bench to score 10 points and was just a rebound shy of the first double-double of her career and point guard Lisa Morrissey scored eight points and handed out seven assists.

The Duhawks held a nine point halftime lead and won the second half by 11 points on their way to the win. They shot 44.6% from the field and a steady 77% from the free throw line. They held the Iowa Conference last place team to 66 points. Haley Brillhart dropped in 17 for the home team.

The win puts the Duhawks back at 11-11 overall and 6-7 in the Iowa Conference leading into Saturday’s critical matchup with the Dubuque Spartans in the AWC. The Duhawks welcome back their alumni as well on Saturday and will also be participating in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Pinkzone efforts. The AWC Pinkzone will include raffles, contests, and a silent auction in hopes of raising significant dollars for the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund which helps to bring awareness and revenue to breast cancer research. Tipoff is 2:00 PM.

Bava Repeats as Academic All-District

Senior Excels Off Court As Well

Loras College senior guard Lindsay Bava was named to the District VII CoSida Academic All District Team on Thursday. The award, presented by ESPN the Magazine, is voted upon by Sports Information Directors in the corresponding district. Bava was a second team selection this year, as well as in 2008-09 and carries a 3.79 GPA.

Bava’s name appears up and down a number of career and individual season records lists for the Duhawks, including points, free throw shooting, and three point shooting. She is currently leading Loras in scoring in 2009-10 (15.1 per game) and free throw shooting, and is second on the team in assists, steals, and minutes.

The Downers Grove, Illinois native and Elementary Education major is Loras’ fourth on the program’s all time scoring list.

View the complete list of selections: ESPN The Magazine Academic All District Teams