DUBUQUE, IOWA - The University of Dubuque Women's Basketball team put on quite the show on Wednesday night in front of the nearly sellout crowd and the viewers at home watching live on KCRG 9.2. The Spartans led throughout the game before a jumper by Simpson at the buzzer made the score 55-54. In her first start of the year, Meggie Schmidt (Edgerton, Wis./Edgerton) scored 10 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Dubuque is 11-7 overall and tied for fourth in the Iowa Conference at 4-3.
It was an exciting final minute of the game with UD holding a one point lead at 53-52. The Spartans spent first 45 seconds running down the clock as Simpson was forced to foul twice before putting UD in the bonus. With 12.8 seconds left, Schmidt was sent to the free throw line. After making one of two free throws to push the Dubuque lead to 54-52, Simpson was fouled with two seconds left in the game. The Storms Whitney Van Wyk made the first free throw before missing the second but maintaing possesion after the ball was knocked out of bounds by UD. Simpson inbounded the ball to freshman Markayla Mahr who made the game winning jump as the final buzzer went off.
The Spartans opened up their biggest lead of the game at the 12:49 mark of the second half when Emily Brinker (Baraboo, Wis./Baraboo) hit a jumper to put UD ahead 45-35. The Brinker jumper capped an 11-3 run for UD which began three minutes earlier on a layup and free throw from Jessica Goetz (Sussex, Wis./Arrowhead).
| Women's Standings | ||
| School | IIAC | ALL |
| Loras | 7-0 | 12-6 |
| Simpson | 6-1 | 11-7 |
| Coe | 5-2 | 10-8 |
| Dubuque | 4-3 | 11-7 |
| Buena Vista | 2-5 | 8-10 |
| Wartburg | 2-5 | 8-10 |
| Central | 1-6 | 9-9 |
| Luther | 1-6 | 10-8 |
Defensively the Spartans forced 25 turnovers while only turning over the ball 14 times. Goetz led UD with four steals, giving her an IIAC best 54 steals on the year. She also moved into a tie for fourth place at UD for single season steals. Schmidt, Brittany Collier (Oswego, Ill./Oswego), Jenna Kotas (Tinley Park, Ill./Andrew), Kayla Springer (Altoona, Wis./Altoona), Adrianna Stephens (Madison, Wis./LaFollette) all had two steals.
Stephany Remakel (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead) was a force in the lane for UD blocking five shots and grabbing seven defensive rebounds (eight total rebounds). Remakel's five blocks pushed her career total to 134, moving her into second place all-time at UD for career blocks. The Spartans held Simpson to 32.2% (19-59) from the field, 20.0% (3-15) from three-point range, and 56.0% (20-34) from the free throw line.
Kotas led UD in scoring with 13 points. Brinker and Heather Chapman (Ingleside, Ill./Grant) were the Spartans top scorers off the bench with six points each.
The game will be replayed on KCRG 9.2 on February 5th at 7:00 pm.
UP NEXT: The Spartans begin the second half of the IIAC schedule with Coe College () on Saturday, February 1st. Game time on Jon Davison Court inside Stoltz Sports Center is 2:00 pm.
LIVE Video and Stats available at: UD-Women's Basketball Online
Follow all UD Athletics action on Twitter at: @UDubuqueSports