DUBUQUE, Iowa - The Calvin women's basketball team lost 73-54 at Loras on the first day of the Loras Holiday Tournament on Thursday.

Calvin (8-3) started strong, building a 17-9 lead in the opening quarter with the help of 10 quick points from Gabby Timmer (Caledonia, Mich./South Christian), but Loras (9-2) would respond.

The Duhawks closed the quarter with an 8-0 run to tie the game 17-17, and then opened the second period with a 17-6 run on the way to taking a 40-30 halftime lead. Sophie Sensenig (Grayslake, Ill./Westlake Christian) made a pair of three-pointers early in the second quarter to keep the Knights within striking distance.

The Knights' defense gave them a chance to start the third quarter as Calvin cut the deficit to 42-36 with five minutes to play in the quarter, but that would be as close the Knights would get. The Duhawks closed the quarter with a 10-3 run to push the lead to 52-39, and then continued to add to it in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Loras shot 42.9 percent from the field for the game while holding Calvin to 38.8 percent, and also forced 21 turnovers that led to 21 points for the Duhawks on the other end.

Timmer was the lone player in double figures for the Knights with 17 points, and her four rebounds leave her one shy of 1,000 for her career.

COACH'S COMMENT: "Congrats to Loras. They out-everything'd us today," said Calvin women's basketball head coach Mark Christner. "We have to play complementary basketball for each other in all facets and we didn't do that today. In life, though, it's always about the response. I'm eager to see how we respond tomorrow against a good Wheaton team."

NEXT UP: Calvin women's basketball returns to action at the Loras Holiday Tournament tomorrow (Friday, January 30) when it faces Wheaton in a game scheduled to tip off at 2:00 PM (CST).