Trojans top Lakers, 76-55

• Miller, Steele both score 16 points
• Trojans pick up win No. 23
• Trojans host Iowa Western in tourney opener

ESTHERVILLE - The NIACC women's basketball team topped Iowa Lakes 76-55 Wednesday night in an ICCAC contest.

NIACC (23-6 overall, 13-5 in the ICCAC) was led by sophomores Tori MIller and Keeley Steele with 16 points apiece. Freshman Reggi Spotts scored 14 points, sophomore Karly Holm scored 12 points and freshman Tayler Helgemoe scored 11 points.

Spotts  led the Trojans with 11 rebounds. It was Spotts' seventh double/double of the season and the second straight contest with a double/double.

Steele collected eight rebounds with three steals and one assist. Miller had seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Helegmoe dished out five assists with four rebounds and four blocked shots.

NIACC, who was led by assistant coach Taylor Moen as head coach Brad Vaught missed the game due to illness, led 23-10 after the first quarter and held a 33-27 lead at halftime.

The Trojans outscored the Lakers 43-28 in the second half to push their winning streak to six games. The Trojans closed the regular season winning 11 of their final 13 games.

It is the second straight season that the Trojans have won 23 games under Vaught, who is in his fifth season. In the 2023-24 campaign, the Trojans were 23-8 and advanced to the NJCAA Region 11-B title game before bowing out to Iowa Western.

With Wednesday's win, NIACC clinched the No. 3 seed for the NJCAA Region 11-B tournament. The Trojans host No. 6 seed Iowa Western at 1 p.m. Saturday in the opening round of the regional tournaemnt.

The winner of Saturday's first-round contest faces either top-seed Ellsworth or sixth-seeded Iowa Lakes at 5:30 p.m. on Monday at the site of the highest remaining seed.