CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa-- For the second consecutive season the American Rivers Conference Women's Basketball Tournament Championship will see second-seeded Loras (23-3, 13-3 A-R-C) and No.1-seed Wartburg (23-3, 14-2 A-R-C) collide for the title.
Wartburg, ranked No. 8/7 (D3hoops.com/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)) advanced to the title game after defeating fourth-seeded Coe (16-11, 10-6 A-R-C) 72-57 in the semifinal round. No.11/13 (D3hoops.com/WBCA) Loras punched their ticket to the championship game by defeating third-seeded Luther (15-10, 12-4 A-R-C) 74-61. Both Wartburg and Loras received first-round byes as the tournament's top two seeds.
No.1 Wartburg 72, No.4 Coe 57 -
BOX SCORE
Four Knights scored in the double digits, with
Emma Gerdes leading with 17.
Payton Draper was the Knight's second leading scorer with 13 followed by
Ally Conrad with 12 and
Tori Hazard with10.
Kaitlyn Volesky grabbed nine boards to pace the nights, while Gerdes and Conrad recorded eight rebounds each.
Jamie Feldt led the way for the Kohawks, totaling 19 points, three blocks, two steals, and one rebound.
Jackie Feldt was the team's second leading scorer with 17 points while adding seven boards, two blocks, two assists, and two steals.
Madeline Wilkins also hit double-figures for Coe, posting 10 points.
No.2 Loras 74, No.3 Luther 61 -
BOX SCORE
Loras'
Macenzie Kramer led all scorers on the night with 30, going 9-for-12 from the field, 5-of-7 from three point and 7-of-8 at the free throw line.
Courtney Schnoor also recorded double digit points for the Duhawks with 12.
Marissa Schroeder and
Riley Eckhart each added nine points. Schroeder and Eckhart also paced the Duahwks on the boards, snagging eight and seven, respectively.
The Norse saw three players finish in double digit figures, with
Grace Prokosch leading the way with 13.
Sarah Holtz added 11 points and five boards while
Madilyn Heinke put up 10 points and brought down five rebounds.
The 2020 A-R-C Championship game tips off from Levick Arena on the campus of Wartburg College at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 29. Wartburg aims to become the first team in conference history to win four-straight tournament titles. Loras owns three conference tournament titles but is looking to pick up their first since 2016.
The winner of the A-R-C tournament will receive the league’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament. Additionally, 21 teams from around the country will be selected to the NCAA Tournament field as at-large bids. Final regional ranking, win-loss percentage, wins against regionally ranked opponents, and strength of schedule are part of the primary criteria utilized by the NCAA selection committee. Three conference teams find themselves ranked in the West Region of the final NCAA Division regional rankings of the season - Wartburg jumps up to No. 1 after defeating Loras last week, the Duhawks come in at No. 3, and Simpson rounds it out remaining at No. 7.
The 64 team NCAA Tournament field will be announced Monday, March 2 at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on NCAA.com.
