It was a hard fought battle throughout the game as the teams exchanged baskets throughout the first half. BVU took a 37-33 advantage into the locker room at halftime.
However, the Beavers came out firing after the break, scoring the first seven points of the second half. The Knights did come within four points of the Beavers, but that was as close as they would get as the Beavers claimed the 15 point decision.
Kristina Kapler and Katie Maguire came up big for the Beavers as they combined to score 47 of BVU’s 81 points. Kapler ended the night with 25 points and nine rebounds, just one shy of a double-double. Maguire added 22 points and eight assists. Megan Holtorf reached double figures as she scored 12 points in the victory.
Wartburg was paced by Natalie Tarkett as she scored 17 points, and Casey Huber, who added 11 points in the loss.
The win was the 22nd straight for Buena Vista, and 34th consecutive at home. The Beavers became the first team since 1998-99 to finish the Iowa Conference schedule undefeated.
Buena Vista will be the number one seed in next weekend's Iowa Conference Tournament. The Beavers will host the University of Dubuque on Tuesday in the quarterfinal round. Wartburg, the fourth seed, will host Loras College.
Wartburg College vs Buena Vista University 2/19/05 2:00 at Storm Lake, IA At Storm Lake, IA BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY 81, WARTBURG COLLEGE 66 WARTBURG COLLEGE (14-10, 9-7) TARKETT, Natalie 7-16 0-0 17; HUBER, Casey 3-7 3-3 11; MULLINS, Diana 3-8 2-2 9; MULDER, Tarah 4-4 0-0 8; CAMPBELL, Elizabeth 2-4 1-2 6; HENDRICKS, Megan 3-5 0-0 6; BERNER, Amanda 2-9 0-2 4; PIRKL, Laura 1-2 0-0 3; SCHOONOVER, Alecia 1-1 0-0 2; FRANTZ, Jamie 0-2 0-0 0; KUGLER, Jessica 0-2 0-1 0. Totals 26-60 6-10 66. BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (24-1, 16-0) KAPLER, Kristina 9-15 7-10 25; MAGUIRE, Katie 7-10 5-5 22; HOLTORF, Megan 5-7 0-0 12; HARTWIG, Tracy 2-3 3-3 7; STALEY, Kelli 3-11 1-2 7; GRIGGS, Jess 2-7 0-0 4; MEYER, Lindsey 1-2 0-0 2; HEITMANN, Penni 1-1 0-2 2; SCHWEITZBERGER, Jeni 0-0 0-0 0; RICHARDSON, Crystal 0-0 0-0 0; UHLARIK, Chelsey 0-0 0-0 0; MOORE, Tia 0-0 0-0 0; KRUGER, Crystal 0-0 0-0 0; PUTNEY, Melissa 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 30-57 16-22 81. Wartburg College.............. 33 33 - 66 Buena Vista University........ 37 44 - 81 3-point goals-Wartburg College 8-20 (TARKETT, Natalie 3-6; HUBER, Casey 2-4; PIRKL, Laura 1-2; MULLINS, Diana 1-4; CAMPBELL, Elizabeth 1-3; FRANTZ, Jamie 0-1), Buena Vista University 5-13 (MAGUIRE, Katie 3-5; HOLTORF, Megan 2-2; STALEY, Kelli 0-3; MEYER, Lindsey 0-1; HARTWIG, Tracy 0-1; KAPLER, Kristina 0-1). Fouled out--Wartburg College-HENDRICKS, Megan, Buena Vista University-None. Rebounds-Wartburg College 28 (SCHOONOVER, Alecia 5), Buena Vista University 38 (KAPLER, Kristina 9). Assists-Wartburg College 14 (KUGLER, Jessica 3), Buena Vista University 19 (MAGUIRE, Katie 8). Total fouls-Wartburg College 20, Buena Vista University 13. A-1250 Buena Vista wins 22nd straight game Buena Vista wins 34th straight home game Buena Vista finishes IIAC season undefeated in league play