• Sophomore Mary Walker leads DMACC with 15 points
• Freshman Whitney Jensen gets a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds
• Loss ends DMACC's eight-game winning streak

Sophomore Mary Walker of Fonda had 15 points and freshman Whitney Jensen of Remsen recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds as the DMACC women's basketball team dropped a 73-56 decision to North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) February 22 at Mason City.

The loss ended DMACC's eight-game winning streak and sent the Bears to 21-8 overall and 12-5 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC). DMACC is tied with NIACC and Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) for third place in the conference standings.

NIACC, which avenged an 81-61 loss to DMACC Jan. 4 inside the DMACC gymnasium, led throughout the game. The Trojans were up 17-12 at the end of the first quarter and took a 34-24 lead into halftime. They outscored the Bears 26-13 in the third period for a 60-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

DMACC shot 28 percent in the loss, making 20 of 72 field goal attempts. The Bears were 8-of-31 from three-point range and 8-of-8 from the free throw line.

NIACC, which improved to 22-6 and 12-5, shot 42 percent from the field with 30 field goals from 72 shots. The Trojans made four of 14 attempts from beyond the arc and were 9-of-14 from the free throw line.

Sophomore Joy Beran of Riceville grabbed 11 rebounds as DMACC came away with a 47-46 advantage on the boards. Freshman Breeley Clayburg of Coon Rapids added nine rebounds. Freshmen Kaylee Stratton of Tiffin and Aunasia Dunn of Kansas City, Mo., topped the Bears in assists with three apiece and Jensen led the way in steals with four. She also had a team-high four blocked shots.

The DMACC women's basketball team will close out the regular season against Kirkwood Community College (KCC) on Feb. 26. Game time is 5:30 p.m. inside the DMACC gymnasium. KCC is 27-0 and 17-0 and leads the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II national rankings. The Eagles are the NJCAA Division II defending national champions.