No. 4 NIACC knocks off No. 1 Kirkwood, 63-60

CEDAR RAPIDS - The first round went to NIACC.

In a battle of top four teams, No. 4 NIACC knocked off No. 1 Kirkwood 63-60 in an ICCAC women's basketball contest Wednesday night.

The rematch between the perennial top two teams in the ICCAC is set for Feb. 22 in Mason City.

NIACC (22-1 overall) leads the ICCAC with a 9-0 mark. Kirkwood (20-2) sits in second place in the league at 7-1.

NIACC now owns three straight victories over Kirkwood. The Lady Trojans also won the last two games against the rival Eagles in the 2018-19 season, including a 77-70 victory in the NJCAA Region XI title game.

NIACC snapped a five-game losing streak at Kirkwood. The last win by the Lady Trojans in Cedar Rapids was a 60-57 victory on Feb. 27, 2016.

It is the first time NIACC has won three straight games against Kirkwood since the 1982-83 (2 games) and 1983-84 season (3 games).

Since the 2013-14 season, Kirkwood is 98-8 at home and NIACC has handed the Eagles four of the eight losses. NIACC is 4-6 at Kirkwood since the 2013-14 season.

In Wednesday's game, sophomore Autam Mendez scored 22 points and freshman Sierra Lynch scored 16 points to lead NIACC to its 10th straight win.

Also for NIACC, sophomore Kelcie Hale grabbed nine rebounds and dished out five assists. Freshman Sierra Morrow scored seven points with nine rebounds and five blocked shots.

NIACC returns to action Saturday at home against DMACC. The Lady Trojans topped the Bears 77-62 earlier this season in Boone.

NIACC's 2019-20 season (22-1 overall)

NIACC 97, Grand View JV 86 (N)

NIACC 87, Bryant & Stratton (Wis.) 82 (N)

NIACC 82, Illinois Central 81 (H)

NIACC 91, Marshalltown CC 38 (H)

NIACC 89, Iowa Western 63 (H)

NIACC 92, Central CC-Columbus 39 (N)

NIACC 77, Northeast CC 66 (N)

NIACC 96, Grand View JV 91 (H)

NIACC 80, Central CC-Columbus 60 (H) 

NIACC 96, Southwestern 78 (A)

NIACC 82, John Wood 70 (A)

NIACC 84, Lincoln Land CC 81 (OT) (N)

Bryant & Stratton (Wis.) 65, NIACC 59 (N) (Cougar Holiday Tournament)

NIACC 94, Sauk Valley CC 33 (N) (Cougar Holiday Tournament)

NIACC 89, Sinclair CC 66 (N) (Cougar Holiday Tournament - 5th place game)

NIACC 112, Little Priest Tribal College 35 (H)

NIACC 77, DMACC 62 (A)

NIACC 84, Iowa Lakes 69 (H)

NIACC 99, Ellsworth 32 (A)

NIACC 97, Southeastern 65 (H)

NIACC 90, Iowa Central 59 (H)

NIACC 71, Southeastern 61 (A)

NIACC 63, Kirkwood 60 (A)