The Spartans were able to cut the lead to six once more in the first half and again in the second, but it wasn't enough as Coe held on for a 76-64 win.
The Kohawks held Dubuque scoreless for the final 3:13 of the first half, as senior Calie Sobaski (Iowa City, Iowa/City) and sophomore Brittany Norris (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson) scored the final six points of the first half for Coe, increasing its lead to 16 at the break. Norris scored 15 of her game-high 27 points in the first half.
Dubuque scored four of the first six points in the second half, but Coe answered with a 7-0 run that increased its lead to 21 with 16:14 to play. Coe later tallied a 21 point lead, its largest of the game.
The Spartans made it a game midway through the second half, as they went on a 21-6 run over the 11:13 to cut the Coe lead to six with 5:07 to play. The Kohawks answered with an 8-3 run that put the lead back to double-digits and sealed the Kohawk win.
Sophomores Sarah Anciaux (Iowa City, Iowa/City) and Kayla Lincoln (Maynard, Iowa/West Central) joined Norris in double-figures with 17 and 12 points respectively. Anciaux also grabbed a game-high seven rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Kaitlin Breitbach (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington) also added a game-high four assists in the win.
The Kohawks will play their fourth and final game of the week on Saturday as they host Central. Coe won the last matchup less than a week ago in Pella 90-66.
