WAVERLY – A key second half run lifted Wartburg College to a win during night one of the 2010 AmericInn Holiday Tournament Dec. 29.

The host Knights, continuing their school-record-best start by going to 11-0, trailed their guests from Northwestern College of St. Paul, Minn., by three (44-41) with 13:23 left. From that point, Wartburg's defense put the clamps on the Eagles, scoring 26 of the final 35 points for a 67-53 win. Coach Bob Asmberry's squad, moving into the championship game against UW-Stout Dec. 30, held Northwestern to four field goals in the stretch.

Senior guard Samantha Harrington of Nashua guided the home team with 14 points. Junior guard Stephanie Reiter of LaPorte City chipped in 11, and junior forward Leslie Wilson of Austin, Minn., rounded out the double-figure scorers with 10. Other top numbers for the Orange and Black came from senior center Katie Zittergruen of Van Horne (eight rebounds and a blocked shot) and sophomore guard Abi Weidemann of Iowa Falls (four steals and three assists).

In Wednesday's opener, UW-Stout rolled out to a 19-2 lead and never looked back en route to an 85-49 win over Principia College of Missouri. The Blue Devils, improving to 5-6, had 17 of their 18 roster players score with Whitney Rawdon's 12 points and four assists leading the charge.

Thursday's day two schedule has Principia facing Northwestern in the consolation final at 1 p.m. and Wartburg and UW-Stout facing off for the championship at 3 p.m.

NOTES – Harrington recorded her ninth straight double-figure scoring game. She's hit at least one three-pointer and been in multiples for assists in eight consecutive contests. … Wartburg's Iowa Conference overall-leading defense continued its impressive ways Wednesday. They held an opponent to 55-points-or-less for the eighth time in 11 games.