No. 1 NIACC rolls in tourney opener, 116-36

MASON CITY - The No. 1 NIACC women's basketball team cruised to a 116-36 victory over Little Priest Tribal College in the opening round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament on Wednesday in the NIACC gym.

NIACC, the top seed in the regional tournament, improved its overall record to 30-1 and became the second women's basketball team in school history to win 30 games. The 2013-14 Lady Trojans, who placed third at the national tournament, compiled an overall record of 34-3.

In Wednesday's game, freshman Sydney Wetlaufer led the Lady Trojans with 18 points, including four 3-point goals. Sierra Morrow scored 16 points with seven rebounds and three steals.

NIACC, which has won 32 straight home games, also received 15 points from Allie Negen, 12 points from Autam Mendez and 11 points from Andrea Gray. Sierra Lynch scored eight points with six assists, four steals and four rebounds.

Mendez, who was honored as the NJCAA Divison II national player of the week on Wednesday, now has 1,027 career points, which moved her into third place on the school's career scoring list.

On Wednesday, Mendez passed Terri Helgeson, who scored 1,026 points from 1975-77.

Also for NIACC, Miyah Walker dished out six assists and Brooke Heisler grabbed eight rebounds.

NIACC, which led 36-0 after the first quarter, led 67-8 at the half.

The 116 points on Wednesday was the most ever in a regional tournament game for the Lady Trojans. The previous most was 105 in a 105-40 win over Ellsworth in the 2018 regional tournament.

NIACC connected on 22 3-point goals against LPTC. Wetlaufer and Mendez both made four 3-point goals and Negen and Gray both made three 3-point goals.

The 22 3-point goals is the most in a regional tournament game for NIACC. The previous most was 21 against Iowa Central in last year's regional semifinal contest.

NIACC will host the regional semifinals and finals on Saturday and Sunday.

NIACC plays Iowa Lakes at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Fifth-seed Iowa Lakes topped fourth-seed Southwestern 81-71 in its regional tournament opener on Wednesday.

NJCAA Region XI tournament

Wednesday's results

NIACC 116, Little Priest Tribal College 36

Iowa Lakes 81, Southwestern 71

Southeastern 56, Iowa Central 51

Kirkwood 74, DMACC 33

Saturday's semifinals

1 p.m. - NIACC vs. Iowa Lakes

3 p.m. - Kirkwood vs. Southeastern

Sunday's championship

1 p.m. - NIACC/Iowa Lakes winner vs. Kirkwood/Southeastern winner