STORM LAKE, Iowa (Jan. 11, 2025) - The Buena Vista University women's basketball team trailed by 13 points with 3:37 to play before going on a 12-0 run to get within one but the University of Dubuque would hold on for a 66-64 victory inside of Siebens Fieldhouse on Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans got a bucket in the paint to build their largest lead of the game at 65-52. BVU followed up with a bucket from McKenna Cone and then back-to-back three-point treys from Bradi Krager and Danika Demers, respectively, to make it a five-point game with 1:47 remaining. Madalynn Hilgendorf then blocked a shot to give the Beavers the ball back while Krager found herself in the paint at the other end for basket. Dubuque then traveled on the ensuing possession which led to a basket from Hilgendorf that made it 65-64 with 55 seconds left. 

A bit of pressure by the Beavers on the way back up the court forced Dubuque into a double dribble with 30 seconds to go. Coming out of a timeout, BVU missed on a three-point attempt from Demers and after the Beavers were forced to foul, the Spartans converted only 1-of-2 at the free-throw line that gave BVU a last chance opportunity. A pass into the paint, however, was knocked away and the Beavers were unable to get a shot off as the final horn sounded.

Dubuque made three more field goals than BVU in the opening quarter and held a slim 15-10 lead. The Spartans outscored the Beavers by five again in the second quarter and took a 34-24 lead into the half. BVU pulled within 40-37 midway through the third quarter but Dubuque quickly responded with five straight points and lead by five at 48-43 heading to the fourth.

Krager made a career-high five three-point shot attempts (5-of-9) and led BVU with 21 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and three steals. She matches McKenna Cone as the only other Beaver to make five in a single-game this season. Junior Madalynn Hilgendorf added 15 points on 6-of-6 of shooting while hauling in seven boards. Cone and Demers each chipped in with 11 points with Demers also dishing out seven assists. Freshman Tyme Boeetcher was held scoreless for only the second time this season but did come up on the defensive end with a career-high 13 rebounds.

BVU was held to 0-of-11 from three-point range in the first half before heating up a bit over the final 20 minutes to finish 6-of-29. The Beavers made 7-of-11 attempts from the the field in the fourth quarter and ended the game making 25-of-65 (38.5 percent). Dubuque was only 3-of-12 from distance and shot 28-of-62 overall (45.2 percent). The Spartans did most of their work in the paint by outscoring BVU, 44-28.

The Beavers held a slight 42-38 edge on the glass and had a plus-five margin in second chance points.

Buena Vista drops to 5-9 overall (0-5 A-R-C) while the Spartans are now 5-9 (2-3 A-R-C). BVU remains at home on Jan. 15 to host Simpson College at 5:30 p.m.