Freshman Sameria Jackson of Houston, Texas, scored 17 points and freshman Shailece Porter of Walthill, Neb., and sophomore Ellie Horn of Newton finished with 13 and 12 points respectively as the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) women's basketball team ended the regular season with a 79-69 loss to Iowa Central Community College (ICCC) March 2 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

The Bears closed the season at 15-13 overall and 10-5 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). They will be the No. 3 seed in this week's National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Women's Basketball Championship.

The game with ICCC was close most of the way. The Tritons led at the end of the first quarter, 23-22, and DMACC had a 40-35 advantage at halftime. The game was tied at 54 at the end of the third quarter.

The Bears shot 42 percent in seeing their season series with the Tritons ended at one game apiece. DMACC was 28-of-67 from the field, including 7-of-24 from three-point range, and made six of nine free throw attempts.

ICCC had a 38-33 advantage on the boards with Jackson and sophomore Grace Stalzer of Zearing grabbing eight rebounds apiece to lead the Bears. Horn had five rebounds and sophomore Aliyah Robinson of Waterloo dished out eight assists and led the Bears in steals with three. Sophomore Emma Rouse of Boone had six assists and freshman Asia Mena of Chicago, Ill., had five.

The DMACC women's basketball team will be home to Southeastern Community College (SECC) in the first round of the Region XI Division II Women's Basketball Championship March 6. Game time is 5:30 p.m. SECC is the No. 6 seed. The two teams split their regular-season series. SECC defeated the Bears, 73-71, Dec. 8 at Keokuk and DMACC avenged the loss with a 73-64 win Feb. 16 inside the DMACC gymnasium.

The DMACC-SECC winner will face either Kirkwood Community College (KCC) or Southwestern Community College (SWCC) March 9. The site will be determined following the March 6 games. KCC is the No. 2 seed and SWCC is seeded seventh. The semifinals are scheduled for March 9 and the championship game is scheduled for March 10.