By Tim Calderwood, Assistant Sports Information Director
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The Loras College women’s basketball team dropped its third straight game, falling in overtime to Coe College 56-53 at home.
Coe forced overtime after Loras converted on four-of-six free throw attempts to take a 51-48 lead with :13 left. The Kohawks brought the ball across half court and took a timeout. Out of the timeout LaToshia Burrell connected on an open three-pointer, her fourth straight three-point field goal, to tie the game with :04 left.
In the extra session Jackie Sears scored the only Loras basket to give the Duhawks a 53-51 lead with 3:10 left. Coe made 3-of-4 free throws to take a 54-53 lead, and the Duhawks twice had open three-pointers that wouldn’t go down as Natalie Pucci and Cortney Kettmann each missed from behind the arc. Two more free throws by Sarah Hemming with :05 left made the final margin 56-53.
A tight contest throughout saw neither team gain larger than an eight point lead. Coe stormed out of the gate to take an 8-0 lead before the Duhawks responded with their own 8-0 run to tie the game. There were eight ties and 16 lead changes throughout the game.
The Duhawks forced Coe into 29 turnovers, leading to 27 Loras points. The Kohawks however held a commanding 52-24 edge on the glass. The Duhawks were led in scoring by Natalie Pucci’s 16 points. Pucci connected on three of her six three-point attempts. Cortney Kettmann and Marissa Pollmann each added eight points. Loras turned the ball over a season-low 11 times as a team.
Coe (6-12, 3-6), who avenged an earlier 66-59 home loss to Loras, had three players cross double digits. LaToisha Burrell had a game-high 17 while Melissa Hanneman added 14 and Holly Zimmerman 13. The Kohawks are now tied with the Duhawks in the conference standings after snapping a five-game losing streak.
Loras (8-10, 3-6) lost for the sixth time in seven games. The Duhawks will return to action on Wednesday when they travel to meet their crosstown rival from the University of Dubuque.