Wartburg Women Wins Seventh A-R-C Tournament Title

First Title Since the 2019-2020 Season

2/24/2024 6:55:45 PM

WAVERLY, Iowa – The No. 6/6-ranked Wartburg College Knights (25-2 overall, 16-0 A-R-C) won their seventh overall American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) Women’s Basketball Tournament in exciting fashion with a 57-51 victory over the No. 20-17-ranked Loras College Duhawks (23-4 overall, 14-2 A-R-C).
 
The Knights earned the conference’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament that begins next weekend. The full field of teams will be announced on Monday, February 26th at 1:30 p.m. (CST) on NCAA.com. Going into today’s championship game, Wartburg ranked third in Region IX while Loras was ranked seventh.
 
It was a close battle all game long as the Wartburg Knights came away with the 57-51 victory. Sara Faber led the Knights in scoring as she finished with 17 points. Also in double-figures was Macy Harris and Jaedon Murphy with 10 points apiece. Murphy was three rebounds away from finishing with a double-double. Harris, along with her 10 points, also recorded five assists. The leading rebounder for the Knights was Lauren Woeste, who pulled down eight rebounds.
 
The Loras Duhawks were led in scoring by Silvana Scarsella and Sami Martin each with 13 points. Following closely behind was Madison Fleckenstein with 11 points.
 
The Knights, now 25-2, will make their seventh trip to the NCAA tournament under Head Coach Bob Amsberry. Loras, now 23-4 on the season, was playing its fourth-consecutive conference championship game.
2024 A-R-C Tournament Schedule
First Round – Tuesday, February 20, 2024
No. 4 Dubuque (66) vs. No. 5 Simpson (58)
No. 3 Coe (74) vs. No. 6 Luther (74) – OT
 
Semifinals – Thursday, February 22, 2024
No. 1 Wartburg (46) vs. No. 4 Dubuque (42)
No. 2 Loras (61) vs. No. 3 Coe (60)
 
Championship – Saturday, February 24, 2024
No. 1 Wartburg (57) vs. No. 2 Loras (51)
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About the American Rivers Conference
The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.