Loras College used a pivotal 8-0 run to open up a 13-point lead with 1:39 left, and the Duhawks went on to hold of a tough effort by the Buena Vista women's basketball team on Saturday afternoon, 77-67.

Susan Kies finished with a team-high 17 points, to go along with five rebounds, four assists and four steals.  Lexi Fisher followed with 15 points and five rebounds, while sophomore Lacey Vokt scored 10 first-half points before finishing with 13 overall.  She tied for the team-lead with six rebounds and also tallied three steals.  Shelby Wiederhoeft was the fourth Beaver to post double-figures, finishing with 12 points and grabbing six boards.

As a team, BVU shot 40 percent from the field, but made just 26 percent from long range and 60 percent from the free-throw line.

The Beavers held a slim 18-16 lead midway through the first half before the Duhawks responded with a 11-2 run to build a 27-20 lead.  After BVU had pulled back to three, Loras built its largest lead of the half (44-35) en route to a 46-39 halftime margin.

The Duhakws kept the lead close to 10 for a majority of the second half until the Beavers used a quick spurt to make it 63-59 contest with just more than five minutes to play.  The team stayed within five with less than three minutes to go, but then Loras would make eight straight free-throws to build a 13-point advantage and secured the win from there.

Buena Vista, which sits 10-13 overall (4-8 IIAC), remains one game in front of Wartburg College and two clear of Luther and Central heading into the final two games of the regular season.

Next up for the Beavers will be the University of Dubuque on Wednesday night at 6:00pm.