WAVERLY, Iowa – The Coe College women's basketball team suffered a 61-55 defeat to top-seeded Wartburg in the American Rivers Conference tournament title game on Saturday afternoon. The Kohawks put the nationally-ranked Knights to the test throughout the contest as the lead changed hands 10 times throughout the game. Coe and Wartburg played a tightly contested first quarter, but a 3 from the hosts tied the game at 18 after one. The Kohawks controlled the second quarter, getting nine points in the frame from
Caydee Kirkham who helped establish a 34-28 halftime advantage. Coe continued to click in the early minutes of the third, pushing the lead to 10 with 8:17 left to play in the period. Wartburg took control during the next phase, scoring 11 unanswered points to go up one. The Knights furthered their comeback in the fourth quarter, opening the period with 12 of the first 15 points to take a six-point lead with less than four to play. Coe continued the fight and got within two at 57-55 but Wartburg scored the final four points at the free throw line to ice the game.
Taylor Brunson had a team-high 23 points despite the loss, adding four steals and two rebounds. Kirkham finished with 13 points as Coe's only other player to hit double figures while
Audrie Helmrichs posted 10 rebounds and six points.
no. 1 WARTBURG 61 - no. 2 COE 55
GAME FACTS
- It was back and forth in the opening quarter with Wartburg and Coe trading runs. Coe threatened to lead after one period with a late 6-0 run but the Knights tied the game at 18 with a 3 in the final minute of the quarter. The Kohawks began to establish control in the closing half of the second, using a 6-2 run to take a 30-27 lead with 1:51 left. The visitors then scored the final four points of the half, getting a 3 and a free throw from Kirkham for a 34-28 advantage. Brunson pushed Coe's lead instantly in the third quarter, scoring six points in the first minute-plus to make it 40-30. Wartburg sprung to life as the double-digit deficit kicked in, scoring 11 unanswered points across a three-plus minute stretch. The Kohawks calmed down after the scoreless stretch and hung tough before the end of the third, getting a clutch 3 from Kelly Knight to take a 48-45 lead into the final period. Wartburg dominated the final quarter, limiting Coe to just 1-of-6 shooting in the opening six-plus minutes. Brunson and Helmrichs dragged Coe back to a two-point deficit with 57 seconds to play but the Knights iced the game at the free throw line, going 4-of-4 in their final tries.
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