Women's Basketball Drops No. 19 Firestorm Behind 30 Points from Holtz

Women's Basketball capped off the competitive part of their trip to Arizona on Wednesday evening with a 77-73 win over NAIA No. 19 Arizona Christian. The victory was the team's second over a Top 20 team this year as they improved to 9-2 overall.

The two teams went back and forth in the first four minutes of action with Doane leading over the first three minutes and Arizona Christian leading the next 90 seconds. The Firestorm led 9-7 with 5:48 to play only to have the Tigers counter with a 7-0 run for a 14-9 lead. A basket by ACU was all that split another Tiger run of 6-0. Over a five minute stretch, Doane out-scored Arizona Christian 15-3 to go up by 10 points. A three-point play by the Firestorm at the end of the quarter left Doane in front, 22-15.

Doane led the majority of the second quarter, however, Arizona Christian chipped away at the Tiger lead as each minute ticked off the clock. With 1:22 left in the quarter, the Firestorm regained the lead, 34-32, following a 10-2 run. Macy Holtz would tie the game on the next Doane possession only to have ACU score on their next possession to lead 36-34 at the break.

Arizona Christian scored the first two baskets of the third quarter to take a six point lead. Doane fought back with an 11-4 run to take a 45-44 lead. The teams would exchange the lead four times in 1:04 of playing time as Maddie Portwine gave the Tigers a lead they would hold until the end of the quarter. Entering the final 10 minutes of play, Doane led 53-50.

Alyssa Alvarez nearly equalled her season high entering the game in the fourth quarter alone for the Firestorm. She entered the game with a season-high 20 points but would score 17 in the final 10 minutes on her way to a game-high 32 points. She scored the final 14 points of the quarter for ACU in the last 4:16 of play.

However, Doane also received a season-high effort as Holtz posted a career-best 30 points. She scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, including 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the last 20 seconds of the game.

Alvarez hit back-to-back 3-point baskets, the last coming with 1:10 to play, to give the Firestorm a 72-70 lead. Doane came back and regained the lead as Portwine drilled a 3-point basket for a 73-72 Tiger lead. Following a defensive stop, Holtz made two free throws for a three-point advantage. Alvarez made a free throw with 6.1 seconds left but intentionally missed the second free throw attempt and Holtz converted both free throws on the other end of the court to seal the win.

Holtz posted a double-double, finishing with 11 rebounds to go with her 30 points. Kaylee Klover posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Portwine notched 19 points, hitting four 3-point baskets, and Megan Chambers chipped in with 14 points.

For the game, the Tigers shot 26-of-62 (42-percent) from the floor and 6-of-19 (32-percent) from behind the arc. They were 19-of-23 (83-percent) at the free throw line, including 15-of-16 in the second half. Arizona Christian was 24-of-63 (38-percent) from the floor and 8-of-27 (30-percent) from 3-point range. They were 17-of-21 (81-percent) from the free throw line.

Following the 32-point effort from Alvarez, Halle Payne posted 16 points. Emily Till led the team with nine rebounds and three assists.

Doane will return to action on December 29 when they travel to Bellevue to take on NAIA No. 22 Mayville State at the Bruin Classic.