The Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) women's basketball team fell to 2-5 for the season following back-to-back losses November 15 and 16 in the Emerson Classic at Marshalltown.
The Bears dropped a 68-64 decision to Marshalltown Community College (MCC) on Nov. 15 and fell to Central (Neb.) Community College (CNEBCC), 64-59, on Nov. 16.
The losses were the fourth and fifth consecutive for DMACC.
Sophomore Taelor Lessmeier of Fort Dodge scored 17 points and freshmen Jada Powell of Des Moines and Emma Mace of Hawarden tallied 10 points apiece in the Bears' loss to MCC. DMACC trailed 23-22 at the end of the first quarter before gaining a 39-39 tie at halftime. MCC had a 52-47 advantage at the end of the third quarter.
The Bears shot 37 percent, connecting on 25 of 67 field goal attempts. They were 5-of-27 from three-point range and 9-of-15 from the free throw line.
MCC came away with a 46-42 advantage on the boards with freshman Katelyn Courtney of Ames hauling down 10 rebounds to lead DMACC. Powell added seven rebounds. Lessmeier and Powell led DMACC in assists with three apiece and Powell and freshman Katie Scott of Polk City had two steals apiece.
Sophomore Asia Mena of Chicago, Ill., scored 19 points and dished out two assists and freshman Riley Gatton of Montezuma added 16 points in DMACC's loss to CNEBCC. The Bears trailed 18-17 at the end of the first quarter and 33-28 at halftime. They had a 50-44 lead heading into the fourth quarter where they were outscored 20-9.
DMACC shot 32 percent, making 21 of 65 field goal attempts. The Bears were 7-of-25 from three-point range and 10-of-15 from the free throw line.
Lessmeier and Courtney pulled down eight rebounds apiece and Powell added seven as DMACC came away with a 41-34 advantage on the boards. Lessmeier, Scott and sophomore Hannah McKinney of Des Moines joined Mena with two assists apiece and Courtney blocked two shots. Powell and Gatton led the Bears in steals with two apiece.
The DMACC women's basketball team gets a rematch with MCC Nov. 19 inside the DMACC gymnasium. Game time is 5:30 p.m. MCC is 2-6 for the season.