CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The Coe College women's basketball team locked up the two-seed and a first-round bye in next week's A-R-C postseason tournament Wednesday evening, defeating the University of Dubuque Spartans 68-61 at Kohawk Arena. Coe held a lead for nearly 30 minutes of the game, maintaining control for most of the contest after an evenly matched first quarter. The Kohawks used a 17-11 second quarter to grab momentum before the end of the half. Balanced scoring helped carry the Kohawks over the line in the second half, getting six-plus points from four different players. UD trailed by double-digits late in the third quarter but quickly cut the deficit to one after two possessions of the fourth quarter. Coe hung on the lead over the closing minutes, getting nine points from
Ellie Wisner to seal the deal.
Caydee Kirkham led the balanced scoring attack for the Kohawks, finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds and three assists.
Taylor Brunson stuffed the staff sheet with a double-double, finishing with 12 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and one block.
Ellie Wisner was the final Kohawk in double-digits, scoring 11 points with a pair of blocks and one board.
Audrie Helmrichs was two points shy of a double-double, registering eight points, 11 rebounds and two assists.
Kelly Knight also finished just short of a first-career double-double, posting eight points and nine rebounds while hitting a pair of 3s.
COE 68 - UD 61
GAME FACTS
- Coe and UD went back and forth in the opening quarter, trading buckets throughout the period. Kirkham helped Coe take a lead at 10-9 and later knotted the score at 14 with the final bucket of the frame. Kirkham drove the Kohawk run in the second quarter, giving the Kohawks a 27-20 lead with a strong spurt. UD kept it close before the end of the half, staying within six points as Coe led 31-25. A dominant stretch from Brunson helped push the Kohawk lead early in the third, scoring six points during an 11-2 run. Coe, leading 42-27 with 4:24 saw UD get right back into the game, ending the quarter with a 13-4 run to pull within six. The Spartan run sustained into the fourth quarter, scoring five unanswered to make it 46-45 with 9:24 left in the game. Wisner scored back-to-back buckets for the Kohawks to restore a multi-possession lead and put the Kohawks back in control. UD kept fighting, pulling back within two points at 54-52 with a solid 7-4 run. Knight hit a huge 3 moments later to restore the momentum for Coe, paving the way for Wisner who made it 60-53 with another long-distance jumper. The Spartans refused to give in, cutting the deficit to three in the closing seconds but clutch free throws from Wisner and Brunson ensured the victory for the Kohawks.
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