No. 12 NIACC falls to No. 2 Kirkwood in regional final
CEDAR RAPIDS - One game short.
The No. 12 NIACC women's basketball team fell one win short of qualifying for the NJCAA Division II national tournament as the Lady Trojans fell to No. 2 Kirkwood 65-52 Sunday afternoon in the NJCAA Region XI final.
Kirkwood, which trailed 36-32 at the half, outscored NIACC 33-16 in the final two quarters to advance to the national tournament for the second straight season. It is the 18th regional title for the Eagles, who are 18-10 in regional championship games.
Kirkwood, which has won 21 straight games, was led by Tayana Wilson with 17 points. Awal Ajak also reached double figures with 10 points for the Eagles (31-3).
NIACC (26-7) was led by freshman Mikayla Homola with 21 points. UU Longs was next in line for the Lady Trojans with eight points.
NIACC was 4 of 35 from 3-point range in the regional title game.
Homola and Longs both were selected to the all-tournament team.
Saturday's semifinal results
Kirkwood 59, Southeastern 52
NIACC 93, Iowa Central 61
Sunday's championship
Kirkwood 65, NIACC 52
NIACC's 2017-18 season (26-7 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
Kirkwood 65, NIACC 52
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 3-1
Plays at home 14-1
Plays on road 6-4
Plays on neutral court 6-2
Leads at halftime 25-2
Trails at halftime 1-5
Tied at halftime 0-0
Plays in overtime 1-0
Scores less than 60 points 0-3
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 3-4
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 0-2
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)