Women's Basketball Halted By Coe
Jan 8, 2020
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque trailed by just three points at halftime but a big run to start the second half from the Coe College Kohawks turned the tides and the Spartans fell, 71-55.
The Spartans did not get off to an ideal start, scoring just four points in the opening nine minutes, but a quick five points in the final minute of the half to end the first quarter at 17-9 in favor of the Kohawks. After shooting just 2-10 from the field in the first quarter, the Spartans shots began to fall.
UD trailed by 10 with 2:40 to play before halftime until Kennedy Litvinoff drilled a three pointer to spark a rally. A Coe turnover and back-to-back layups from Litvinoff suddenly pulled the Spartans within three points at 28-25 at halftime. Litvinoff scored the final nine points of the quarter and would finish the game with nine points.
The Kohawks rattled off the first seven points of the second half and 17 of the first 21 to quickly push the UD deficit from four to 17 at the 6:25 mark of the third quarter. The Spartans had their best shooting quarter of the game, connecting on 40% of their shots in the third and it ended with a Tabria Thomas and one layup with one second remaining to keep the Spartans within 12 heading into the final frame.
Morgan Meerstein opened the fourth quarter with an offensive rebound and put back layup to get UD within 10, however that was as close as they would get over the final 9:33
Lauren Griffith was the lone Spartan to reach double figures in points with 10 while also grabbing five rebounds. Tabria Thomas and Litvinoff both finished with nine points and one steal each. Miah Smith just missed another 10 rebound performance, finishing the night with nine. Morgan Meerstein finished with the best plus, minus of any Spartan at seven as she posted five points, three rebounds, two steals and one block in just under 20 minutes of play.
The Spartans will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Buena Vista at 2 p.m. in the Stoltz Sports Center.
