WAVERLY, Iowa – 9^th-ranked Wartburg used a 23-0 run at the end of the 1^st half and start of 3^rd quarter to pull away with a 79-57 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan in the first Iowa Conference women's basketball game for the Prairie Wolves on Wednesday night (Nov. 30).
 
Nebraska Wesleyan made a great first impression in the IIAC, as they battled toe-to-toe with the nationally-ranked Knights.  Wartburg, ranked 9^th in the d3hoops.com top 25 and 10^th in the WBCA top 25 polls this week, had to shoot at a very high percentage to maintain with NWU early.
 
The Prairie Wolves (3-2, 0-1 IIAC) led 29-28 in the 2^nd quarter with 3:18 to play before halftime.  That is when the Knights made their run.  Wartburg scored 15 straight points, including a 3-pointer at the buzzer to build up a 43-29 halftime advantage.
 
Wartburg continued their run to start the second half as they scored the first eight points of the half to go ahead 51-29, and they would cruise the rest of the way to remain undefeated in Iowa Conference play.
 
In the third quarter, Wartburg remained red hot from the floor as they shot 64.7 percent making 6-9 from 3-point range.  NWU struggled from the field, making only 6-20 shot attempts in the 3^rd quarter.
 
Nebraska Wesleyan finished the game shooting 35.5 percent from the field, making 9-23 3-pointers for 39.1 percent.  Wartburg cooled off in the 4^th quarter as reserves played the majority of the quarter shooting 18.8 percent to make their final shooting percentage 49.2.  They shot over 59 percent in the first three quarters.
 
Addie Wetzel was the lone NWU player to score in double figures for the Prairie Wolves with 13 points and six rebounds.
 
Five Wartburg players were in double figures led by Katie Sommer who scored 15 points with 10 rebounds and six assists.
 
NWU will play their first home game of the 2016-17 season on Saturday by hosting Buena Vista University.