Stout can't quite get past Loras, fall 79-72

Loras College 79, UW-Stout 72

DUBUQUE, Iowa (November 12, 2021) - UW-Stout did not have a lot of trouble getting a lead over Loras College, but the Blue Devils had a hard time holding onto that lead and the host Duhawks defeated Stout, 79-72, in the Loras College Tip-Off Friday.

In a game that featured 10 tied scores, Stout's biggest lead of the game was a five-point margin in the first quarter. The Duhawks (2-0) led at the end of every quarter, holding a 17-14 first quarter lead, a 35-31 halftime lead, a 53-52 third quarter lead and, of course, the final 79-72 score. 

The second quarter alone saw six lead changes. Stout (1-1) took a two point lead early in the second half. Sam Schaeffer hit a 3-pointer to pull Stout to within one point, 35-34 and Lizzy Olsem hit an old fashioned 3-pointer with a bucket and free throw to give Stout a 37-35 lead, but the Duhawks reversed that into a five point lead, 42-37. Stout tied the game at 45-45 at 3:09 in the quarter, the closest Stout would get the rest of the game. While Stout trailed by only one at the end of the third quarter, the Blue Devils were outscored 26-20 in the final stanza.

In only her second game, Amanda Giesen led Stout with 16 points and pulled down six rebounds. Anna Mutch scored 12 and Raegan Sorensen scored 11 points. Sorensen had a team-high seven rebounds, three blocked shots and five steals. Stout shot 45.5 percent (25-55) from the floor, but hit only 1 of 7 3-pointers. Stout made 21 of 31 free throw attempts. Stout out-rebounded Loras, 38-20. 

The Duhawks were led by Madison Fleckenstein, who led all scorers with 18 points. Cierra Baumann and Sydney Schuler added 12 points and Sami Martin recorded 10 points. Loras shots 39.4 percent (26-66) from the floor, 34.8 percent (8-23) from 3-point range and made 19 of 24 free throw attempts.

In this first-ever meeting between the two teams, Stout committed 32 turnovers and Loras turned the ball over 24 times. Stout had three players foul out and Loras had one player foul out.

The Blue Devils will play Bethel University, Saturday, Nov. 13 at 2 p.m.