LINCOLN, NE – The Nebraska Wesleyan women's basketball team delivered one of their most competitive performances of the season but fell just short in a 71-69 loss to Dubuque on Saturday at Snyder Arena. Despite leading for over 28 minutes and battling to the final possession, the Prairie Wolves were unable to secure their first victory of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Prairie Wolves opened the game with energy, fueled by standout performances from junior Carney Black and freshman Mackenzie Griffin. Black, who finished with a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds, controlled the glass, while Griffin provided a spark off the bench, scoring 15 points, including three crucial three-pointers.
NWU dominated the paint early, with Alison Davis's pair of acrobatic and one finishes helping them build a 24-23 lead after the first quarter. Griffin's sharpshooting extended NWU's advantage to six points late in the second quarter, sending the Prairie Wolves into halftime with a 42-38 lead.
In the third quarter, The Prairie Wolves got out of the gate going on a 6-0 run to take a ten point lead. Dubuque responded with a 7-0 run to bring the Spartans within three. The Prairie Wolves entered the final quarter clinging to a 57-54 advantage.
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth battle. Dubuque tied the game at 59-59 with eight minutes to play and took the lead for good on a three-point play with just under two minutes remaining. Nebraska Wesleyan had one final possession down 71-69, but a contested layup at the buzzer fell short, sealing the heartbreaking defeat.
KEY PERFORMANCES
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan (0-9) will look to bounce back on Monday, December 30, when they travel to Minnesota to face the University of Northwestern (MN) in Roseville, MN. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 PM.
