LINCOLN, Neb. – Luther College handed the Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball team their 5^th straight conference loss on Saturday afternoon (Jan. 19) as the Norse came into Snyder Arena and defeated the Prairie Wolves 81-53 in American Rivers conference action.
 
After starting the year with three league wins, NWU has now fallen to 3-5 in conference play and 8-9 overall.  Luther moves to 7-8 overall and 6-2 in conference play.
 
NWU started the game quick getting ahead 11-2 less than four minutes into the game.  Luther responded with a 10-0 run to take over the lead.  The Norse went ahead 16-13 later in the quarter and led 20-15 after one period.
 
The Norse extended their lead to 11 points at halftime as the Prairie Wolves shot only 20 percent (4-20) in the second quarter.
 
Luther came out hot in the 3^rd quarter making 4-7 from 3-point range and 62.5 percent overall as they outscored NWU 25-18.  The Prairie Wolves were held to only eight points in the final period as the Norse ran away late.
 
NWU finished the game shooting only 27.9 percent overall from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range.
 
Klaire Phillips led NWU with 14 points and six steals.  Bailey Hallgren was hot from the outside making three 3-pointers to score 11 total points with seven rebounds.
 
Luther was led by Kaylee Parks who made 7-10 on 3-pointers with 25 points.  Laura Hamilton ended the game with 21 points, nine assists and seven assists.