News Release

STORM LAKE, Iowa — Katie Maguire and Jess Griggs combined for 40 points as Buena Vista University defeated Luther College 87-73 in an Iowa Conference women's basketball game on Tuesday. The Beavers made a season-high 11 3-point shots and defeated the Norse for the seventh straight time.

Buena Vista broke a 17-17 tie midway through the first half with a 17-2 run. During the spurt, BVU made three 3-point shots and forced five Luther turnovers. The Beavers, who have won 35 straight regular-season home games, went on to take a 44-31 lead into halftime.

Luther, the preseason favorite to win the conference championship, trimmed the deficit to 47-39 three minutes into the second half. Buena Vista, which has won the last two conference titles, responded by inching out to a 61-50 lead with 12 minutes to go in the game. The Beavers then delivered the decisive blow by going on a 15-2 run over the next four minutes.

Maguire scored 21 points and dished out eight assists for Buena Vista, which was playing without its leading scorer, Kelli Staley. Griggs scored a season-high 19 points and grabbed six rebounds. Tracy Hartwig added a season best 14 points while Katie Ebel chipped in a career-high 10 points off of the bench.

Luther was led by Anne Straate's 23-point and eight-rebound performance. Rachel Jensen registered 15 points off of the bench while Christina Gaard added 11 points.

Buena Vista concluded the evening shooting a sizzling 11 of 20 (55%) from behind the arc. Luther meanwhile was just 1 of 8 (13%). The Beavers forced 24 Norse turnovers.

The two teams combined for 47 fouls and 60 free throw attempts. Luther hit on 26 of 31 (84%) of its attempts while Buena Vista was 22 of 29 (76%) from the charity stripe.

Buena Vista improved to 8-5 with the victory and 3-1 in the Iowa Conference. Luther fell to 9-3, 2-2 in league. The Beavers have this weekend off and will return to play on Wednesday, January 18 by traveling to Wartburg College.

Luther College vs Buena Vista University
01/10/06 6:00pm at Storm Lake, IA
At Storm Lake, IA

BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY 87, LUTHER COLLEGE 73

LUTHER COLLEGE (9-3, 2-2 IIAC)
STRAATE, Anne 7-10 9-9 23; JENSEN, Rachel 4-6 7-11 15; GAARD, Christina 3-10
4-4 11; BESTUL, Kylie 4-9 1-2 9; SVIEN, Erica 3-8 1-1 7; O'BRIEN, Melissa
1-6 2-2 4; DUNNWALD, Danielle 0-6 2-2 2; EICHER, Jill 1-3 0-0 2; MILLER,
Jackie 0-0 0-0 0; TEKIPPE, Ashley 0-0 0-0 0; ERNST, Blair 0-1 0-0 0. Totals
23-59 26-31 73.
BUENA VISTA UNIVERSITY (8-5, 3-1 IIAC)
MAGUIRE, Katie 7-18 6-7 21; GRIGGS, Jess 6-10 4-6 19; HARTWIG, Tracy 4-8 3-4
14; EBEL, Katie 3-5 1-2 10; ERNST, Katie 2-6 5-5 9; MEYER, Lindsey 2-4 0-0
4; STOELK, Courtney 1-5 1-2 4; HEITMANN, Penni 1-1 1-1 3; PUTNEY, Melissa
1-3 1-2 3; SCHWEITZBERGER, Jenn 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-60 22-29 87.

Luther College................   31   42  -   73
Buena Vista University........   44   43  -   87
3-point goals-Luther College 1-8 (GAARD, Christina 1-3; O'BRIEN, Melissa
0-3; DUNNWALD, Danielle 0-2), Buena Vista University 11-20 (EBEL, Katie 3-5;
HARTWIG, Tracy 3-4; GRIGGS, Jess 3-5; MAGUIRE, Katie 1-2; STOELK, Courtney
1-2; MEYER, Lindsey 0-2). Fouled out--Luther College-GAARD, Christina, Buena
Vista University-ERNST, Katie. Rebounds-Luther College 39 (DUNNWALD,
Danielle 8; SVIEN, Erica 8; STRAATE, Anne 8), Buena Vista University 33
(ERNST, Katie 8). Assists-Luther College 12 (GAARD, Christina 4), Buena
Vista University 17 (MAGUIRE, Katie 8). Total fouls-Luther College 22, Buena
Vista University 25. A-750
Buena Vista wins its 35th straight regular season home game.