WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BOUNCES BACK AFTER LOSS TO STORM

ALEX ECONOMOS, TRUMPET STAFF WRITER

The Wartburg Women’s Basketball team fell to Simpson on Wednesday, Jan. 22, for the team’s second loss in four games. The Knights lost 66-62 to the Storm in an intense American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) showdown before bouncing back against the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves on Saturday, Jan. 25, to close out a three-game road trip.

After early season success, the Knights have found themselves in a slump. The Knights went 12-1 in the team’s first 13 games but dropped two games in the last two weeks. Amanda Brainerd ’20 led the Knights against Simpson with 16 points and five rebounds. Payton Draper ’21 added 15 points in 20 minutes. Emma Gerdes ’20 also recorded six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

The Knights did the most damage inside, scoring 32 points in the paint as opposed to Simpson’s 16. In a final attempt to steal the game from the Storm, the women rallied to score 22 points in the fourth quarter but came up short.

Against the Nebraska Wesleyan Prairie Wolves, Wartburg scored over 100 points for the fourth time this season. Fifteen Knights scored in the 107-46 victory. The games brought the Knights to an overall record of 15-3 and 7-2 in conference.

As of Jan. 19, the Knights are ranked No. 7 in Division III by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Conference foe and eastern Iowa neighbor Loras sits at No. 8.

Looking ahead, Wartburg will return to Levick Arena for a rematch with Coe at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29.