WAVERLY, Iowa - After an offensive struggle in the first meeting between the two teams, Coe shot over 50 percent from the field as they rolled Wartburg 81-63 Wednesday night in a game between the two teams tied for second in the league standings.
Although the game saw two ties, the Kohawks never trailed as they opened the game with a 7-2 lead in the first 2:59. After the Knights cut the lead to one on a free throw by Abi Weidemann with 12:29 to play in the opening half, a layup by seniorKayla Waskow (Dunkerton, Iowa/Dunkerton) sparked an 11-2 run in less than three minutes. Coe took a 42-32 lead into the locker room at halftime after scoring just 46 points against the Knights the entire 40 minutes the previous meeting.
The Kohawks led 50-40 with 16:08 to play when a jumper by senior Kelsey Jipp(Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) ignited an 11-2 run in 2:26, as Coe took a 61-41 lead with 13:41 to play. Wartburg answered with a 7-3 run in 2:33, as they cut the lead to 16 with 10:35 remaining. Coe used one more big run, as senior Leslie Ware (Des Moines, Iowa/Johnston) hit a 3-pointer to start an 11-0 run that gave Coe its largest lead of the game at 75-48 with 6:48 to play. Wartburg was able to use a 15-2 run in the next 4:41 to cut the lead to 14, but wouldn't get any closer.
Waskow and freshman Megan Hayes (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) led the Kohawks with 15 points apiece. Jipp joined them in double-figures with 11 points, while juniorLindsey Buckles (Davenport, Iowa/West) and Ware added 10 points. SophomoreMary Halvorson (Waterville, Iowa/Waukon) added eight. With her 15 points, Waskow joined Shelly Howe as the only players in school history to score 1,200 or more career points. With 373 this season, she moved into fifth on the single-season scoring list. Ware hit two 3-pointers, as she moved past former teammate Kayla Lincoln for second on the career 3-pointers list with 173. Leslie Wilson led the Knights with 21 points.
Waskow and Hayes finished with eight and seven rebounds respectively, the two highest in the game. Waskow also dished out five assists and stole two passes, while Buckles had a career-high four assists. Halvorson and sophomore Hannah Breitbach(Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) had three assists apiece, while Breitbach had two steals.
With the win, the Kohawks move into sole possession of second place in the Iowa Conference standings. Coe returns to action on Saturday, as they host Luther on Senior Day. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Eby Fieldhouse. Coe will honor the seniors from the men's and women's teams between games of the doubleheader.