- Sophomore Jaden Ainley leads DMACC with 18 points and 10 rebounds
- Sophomores Halie Mohr and Rebekah Fuller score 15 and 14 points respectively
- Bears shoot just 28 percent from the field
Poor shooting in the second and third quarters cost the DMACC women's basketball team an opportunity to upset the nation's second-ranked team February 24 when the Bears dropped an 81-64 decision to Iowa Western Community College (IWCC) at Council Bluffs.
The Bears, ranked 17th in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II poll, got off to a great start with a 24-20 lead at the end of the first quarter but made just four of 21 field goal attempts in the second period as IWCC pulled even at halftime, 34-34. DMACC's drought continued in the third period when the Bears were successful on just three of 21 field goal attempts and IWCC, the No. 2-ranked team in NJCAA Division II, took advantage with a 21-7 spread in the period for a 55-41 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. DMACC had a 39-36 lead a minute and a half into the third quarter and then went more than six minutes without a point as the Reivers pulled away behind 15 unanswered points for a 51-39 lead with just more than two minutes to play in the period.
Sophomore Jaden Ainley of Clear Lake led DMACC with 18 points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds. Sophomores Halie Mohr of Mediapolis and Rebekah Fuller scored 15 and 14 points respectively.
DMACC, 20-9 overall and 15-4 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC), shot just 28 percent from the field with 21 field goals from 74 attempts. The Bears were 6-of-38 from three-point range and 16-of-30 from the free throw line.
IWCC, which improved to 27-2 overall, remained in a tie with Kirkwood Community College (KCC) for first place in the conference at 18-1. The Reivers shot 33 percent from the field, making 25 of 77 field goal attempts. They were 9-of-23 from three-point range and 22-of-29 at the free throw line.
IWCC controlled the boards, 54-42 with Ainley's 10 rebounds leading DMACC. Mohr came away with nine and freshman Joy Beran of Riceville had eight. Sophomore Kennedy Jones of Oak Park, Ill., led the Bears in assists with five and Ainley had three. Fuller and freshman Mary Walker of Fonda had two steals apiece.
The DMACC women's basketball team closes out the regular season against North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) Feb. 28 inside the DMACC gymnasium. A win will give the Bears sole possession of third place in the conference. NIACC, 21-7 overall and 14-5 in the ICCAC, can tie DMACC for third place with a victory. DMACC defeated the Trojans 72-60 when the two teams played Dec. 2 at Mason City.