No. 12 NIACC rolls to regional final
CEDAR RAPIDS - They're back.
For the fifth straight season, the NIACC women's basketball team will be playing in the regional final.
No. 12 NIACC cruised to a 93-61 victory over Iowa Central Saturday afternoon in the NJCAA Region XI semifinals on the Kirkwood campus. Sophomore Kelsie Willert and freshman Mikayla Homola both scored 14 points to lead the Lady Trojans.
Second-seed NIACC (26-6) faces top-seed Kirkwood at 1 p.m. Sunday in the regional final. Kirkwood stopped fourth-seed Southeastern 59-52 in the other regional semifinal on Saturday.
No. 2 Kirkwood (30-3) won both regular season contests against NIACC. The Eagles won 68-59 on Jan. 17 in Cedar Rapids and 70-68 in Mason City on Feb. 14.
In its previous four consecutive trips to the regional final, the Lady Trojans have qualified for the national tournament twice (2014 and 2016).
In the other two trips to the regional title game, the Lady Trojans have bowed out to Kirkwood on the Eagles' home floor.
In Saturday's semifinal victory, NIACC, which has won eight straight against Iowa Central, led 58-35 at the half.
Also for NIACC, Adria Stewart scored 12 points and UU Longs scored 11 points.
Khalilah Holloway led NIACC with eight rebounds and Laabs dished out six assists.
Saturday's game was the seventh straight game that the Lady Trojans have scored at least 93 points in a game. The last time the Lady Trojans were held under 93 points was in the 70-68 loss to Kirkwood on Feb. 14.
Saturday's semifinal results
Kirkwood 59, Southeastern 52
NIACC 93, Iowa Central 61
Sunday's championship (At Cedar Rapids)
1 p.m. - NIACC (26-6) vs. Kirkwood (30-3)
NIACC's 2017-18 season (26-6 overall)
NIACC 99, Illinois Central 82
NIACC 90, Bay College 61
NIACC 134, Milwaukee Area Tech 45
NIACC 121, Harper College 28
NIACC 98, Iowa Western 89
NIACC 128, Riverland CC 36
NIACC 102, Rock Valley College 76
NIACC 112, Lake Region State College 57
NIACC 105, Grand View JV 73
Northeast CC 67, NIACC 54
NIACC 111, Central CC-Columbus 51
NIACC 78, NDSCS 77 (OT)
NIACC 106, Dakota College-Bottineau 47
NIACC 122, Kalamazoo Valley CC 58
Illinois Central 66, NIACC 62
Owens CC 73, NIACC 63
NIACC 83, Southeastern CC 52
Kirkwood 68, NIACC 59
NIACC 76, Iowa Central 67
NIACC 89, Ellsworth 46
DMACC 91, NIACC 83
NIACC 94, Iowa Lakes 71
NIACC 99, Southwestern 75
NIACC 98, Southeastern 94
Kirkwood 70, NIACC 68
NIACC 93, Iowa Central 73
NIACC 99, Ellsworth 70
NIACC 110, DMACC 78
NIACC 95, Iowa Lakes 72
NIACC 103, Southwestern 54
NJCAA Region XI tournament
NIACC 105, Ellsworth 40
NIACC 93, Iowa Central 61
NIACC women's basketball team 2017-18
When NIACC Then NIACC is
In November 9-0
In December 4-3
In January 4-2
In February 6-1
In March 3-0
Plays at home 14-1
Plays on road 6-3
Plays on neutral court 6-2
Leads at halftime 25-1
Trails at halftime 1-5
Tied at halftime 0-0
Plays in overtime 1-0
Scores less than 60 points 0-2
Scores between 60-69 points 0-3
Scores between 70-79 points 2-0
Scores between 80-89 points 2-1
Scores between 90-99 points 10-0
Scores 100 or more points 12-0
Allows less than 60 points 11-0
Allows between 60-69 points 3-3
Allows between 70-79 points 9-2
Allows between 80-89 points 2-0
Allows between 90-99 points 1-1
Allows 100 or more points 0-0
Game decided by 1-3 points 1-1
Game decided by 4-6 points 1-1
Game decided by 7-10 points 2-3
Game decided by 11-14 points 0-1
Game decided by 15+ points 22-0
NIACC WOMEN'S SEASON SINGLE-GAME HIGHS
TEAM
Points - 134 vs. Milwaukee Area Tech (11-10-17)
3-point goals - 26 vs. Dakota College-Bottineau (12-9-17)
Rebounds - 65 vs. Riverland CC (11-21-17)
Assists - 33 vs. Milwaukee Area Tech (11-10-17)
Steals - 29 vs. Harper College (11-11-17)
INDIVIDUAL
Points - 42, Taylor Laabs vs. Southwestern (2-3-18)
3-point goals - 9, Laabs vs. Southwestern (2-3-18)
Rebounds - 16, Khalilah Holloway, twice.
Assists - 10, Kelsie Willert vs. DMACC (2-24-18)
Steals - 9, Kelsie Willert vs. Kalamazoo Valley CC (12-28-17)