PROVIDENCE, R.I. – No. 6/7 Wartburg women's basketball (29-2) advanced to the 2023-24 NCAA Tournament Final Four after a 68-58 win over No. 9/19 Washington and Lee University (29-3) on Saturday, Mar. 9. This marks the third time since 2016 and in school history that women's basketball has been to the national semifinals.
Game Summary
- First Half
- First Quarter
- Jaedon Murphy got the first score of the game on a riving layup, but was quickly answered with a Washington & Lee three pointer
- The Generals scored the next two baskets before a three ball from Murphy an then Sara Faber brought the score to 8-7 with Wartburg in front
- In the final minutes of the quarter, Lauren Woeste scored five-straight points for Wartburg to give the Knights a 13-10 lead after the first quarter
- Second Quarter
- Murphy and Macy Harris both hit from three-point range to begin the second quarter and make the score 19-15
- The Generals closed the gap to two with right minutes left in the half, but Harris answered with a driving layup and then Murphy found an open Britney Young for three
- Wartburg led 24-17 with 5:36 left in the half
- Harris converted a three-point play and then Murphy buried her third three of the half to push the Knight lead to 30-17
- After each team traded scores, Murphy connected again from deep to make the score 35-21 with 1:25 remaining in the half
- Harris made a driving floater with 46 seconds left before halftime, but Washington & Lee scored four points to close the half and make the score 37-25
- Second Half
- Third Quarter
- After a minute and a half of scoreless play, the Generals started the quarter with a made three and then Murphy answered with a basket for the Knights
- Woeste made a basket in the paint with 6:37 left in the quarter to make the score 41-31
- Minutes later, Lauren Golinghorst got an offensive rebound and made a layup to make the score 43-31
- Washington & Lee cut the lead to eight points with 1:24 left in the third,
- After three quarters, Wartburg led 45-40
- Fourth Quarter
- Faber started the fourth with a three pointer that put Wartburg ahead 48-40
- The Knights were unable to score over the next three minutes, but the defense stood strong, never giving up the lead
- Wartburg led 48-47 with just over five minutes left to play when Macy Harris put her head down and got to the rim for a score to make it 50-47 with 5:01 to play
- Faber knocked in two free throws and then the next possession Faber found an open Murphy for her fifth three of the night
- Another driving layup from Harris as well as four straight points from Murphy put Wartburg ahead by 10 with 2:06 left to play
- Faber, Harris and Young all put the game away at the free throw line as Wartburg won 68-58 to advance to the final four
Top Performers
- Jaedon Murphy
- 23 points
- Eight rebounds
- Three steals
- Three assists
- Two blocks
- Macy Harris
- 17 points
- Five rebounds
- Four assists
- Sara Faber
- 13 points
- Two rebounds
- Two assists
- One steal
Notes/Streaks
- First ever matchup between these programs
- First Final Four since 2018
- Third appearance in school history (All under Coach Amsberry and his staff)
- 29 wins is most in a season since 2017-18
- Wartburg outrebounded Washington & Lee 41-40
- The Knights held the Generals to 58 points, which is the third lowest point total of the season for Washington & Lee
- Washington & Lee season average for points scored: 77.2 (58 tonight)
- Murphy moves to fifth all-time in career points at Wartburg with 1,466
- Fourth all-time in Three Pointers made at Wartburg with 194
- Young is second all-time in career three-pointers made with 225 (18 away from tying first)
- Faber is ninth all-time in career three-pointers made with 157 (nine away from tying eighth)
- Harris has the school record for games played with 130 and counting
Postgame Press Conference
Press clippings
Story from KWWL
Story from
The Waterloo Courier
Next Time Out
The Knights will continue their NCAA Tournament run with a Final Four matchup against No. 14/14 Smith College on Thursday, Mar. 14 in Columbus, Ohio.
