Julie Drewes

Box Score

Wartburg WAR 29-3,16-0 American Rivers

Smith SMI 30-3,10-1 NEWMAC

Wartburg WAR

29-3,16-0 American Rivers

Final

Mar. 14, 2024

Smith SMI

30-3,10-1 NEWMAC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	OT 1	F
Wartburg WAR	17	5	9	17	6	54
Smith SMI	13	5	17	13	13	61

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 3/14/2024 6:35:00 PM | Ben Woods

No. 14/14 Smith Holds Off No. 6/7 Women's Basketball in Final Four Overtime Battle

COLUMBUS, Ohio – No. 6/7 Wartburg women's basketball fell to No. 14/14 Smith College 61-54 in the NCAA Tournament Final Four on Thursday, Mar. 14. The Knights close a hard-fought 2023-24 season with a final record of 29-3 overall, which is the second most wins in a season in program history.

Game Summary

First Half
- First Quarter
  - Jaedon Murphy got the scoring in the first minute of play with a driving layup
  - After a Smith three pointer, Sara Faber answered with five-straight points after back-to-back jumpers
  - After free throws from Lauren Woeste and a layup from Lauren Golinghorst, the Knights led 12-8 with 4:16 left in the first
  - Macy Harris made a layup and then the following possession Taylor Runchey converted a three-point play to make the score 17-13 after one quarter
- Second Quarter
  - The Knights were in a scoring draught to begin the second quarter as Smith went on a 5-0 run through the first five minutes of the quarter to take a 18-17 lead
  - Natalie Bearbower broke the draught with a three pointer to give the Knights a 20-18 lead with under four minutes left in the half
  - Woeste added to the lead with a layup after a good feed from Runchey and Wartburg led 22-18 with just over a minute remaining in the half
  - Both teams closed the half with defensive stops and the score was 22-18 headed into halftime
Second Half
- Third Quarter
  - Smith opened the half with five straight points to take a 23-22 lead after a minute and a haff of play
  - Murphy stopped the run with a basket in the paint to give Wartburg the lead back
  - Smith went back on the attack with a 7-0 run that made the score 30-24 with under five minutes left in the third
  - Young stopped the run with a three ball and then a Runchey layup brought the Knights within one
  - Muprhy scored in the final minute to cut the lead to two, but Smith scored again to make it 35-31 after three quarters
- Fourth Quarter
  - Smith got on the board first in the fourth quarter after over two minutes of scoreless play
  - Runchey and Woeste both scored in the paint to cut the lead to 37-35
  - Runchey answered a Smith three pointer with a three of her own with an assist from Woeste to make the score 40-38 with 4:32 remaining
  - Faber scored a floater and then Woeste put two free throws in to cut the lead to 44-42
  - A Murphy basket inside followed by a Woeste free throw made it 46-45 with under a minute left
  - After a Smith bucket stretched the lead to three, Faber took an inbounds pass to the top of the key and drilled a clutch three pointer to tie the game at 48 with four seconds left
  - Smith got an open look at the buzzer, but it rimmed out and the game headed to Overtime
- Overtime
  - Smith's Ally Yamada connected on her fifth three of the game to begin overtime
  - After a Woeste steal, Faber was fouled in transition and scored two at the free throw line to make the score 51-50 with 2:18 remaining
  - Yamada made her sixth three and Smith added a layup with the foul to go ahead 57-51
  - Faber and Runchey both scored for the Knights, but Smith was able to fend off the Knights comeback attempt and hold on for a 61-54 win

Top Performers

Sara Faber
- 11 points
  - Game-tying three pointer in regulation
- Five rebounds
- One assist
Taylor Runchey
- 12 points
- Three rebounds
- One assist
Lauren Woeste
- Nine Points
- Three rebounds
- One assist
- One steal