Posted: Jan 27, 2021

No.2 KCC women roll by NIACC

The Kirkwood Eagles lost all three of their games against the NIACC Trojans last season, but this is a completely different year with a completely different result so far.

The second-ranked Eagles plastered the Trojans, 93-36, in a lopsided ICCAC women's basketball affair at Johnson Hall Wednesday night.

NIACC lost only one game last season and finished second in the NJCAA Division II national tournament, but most of their top players are gone and they have a new head coach. In addition, the depleted Trojans dressed only seven players for Wednesday's game with five others on the disabled list.

The outcome was predictable. Kirkwood (3-0) scored early and often and had no trouble with the visitors from Mason City.

Ashley Tull led a balanced attack with 16 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and two assists. Tull got in early foul trouble and missed most of the first half, but she returned with a vengeance in the third quarter and scored all her points in the second half.

Karsyn Stratton, the ICCAC Player of the Week, chipped in with 15 points. Tatiana Hodges-Johnson collected 12 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Kirkwood pounded NIACC on the backboards, 68-24. Maddie Paulsen grabbed 11 rebounds and Corey Whitlock had 10.

Kirkwood visits Iowa Western on Saturday.

Kourtney Manning scored 12 points for NIACC (0-3).

NIACC (36): Kourtney Manning 4 4-4 12, Courtney Miller 0 0-0 0, Aaliyah Hill 2 0-0 5, Kayla Clewley 2 2-2 6, Czarina Mada 2 3-3 7, Georgia DeLaCruz 2 0-0 6, Haley Hungerholt 0 0-0 0. Totals 12 9-9 36.

KIRKWOOD (93): Karsyn Stratton 7 1-2 15, Tatiana Hodges-Johnson 5 0-0 12, Kortney Drake 2 0-0 5, Kemara Watson 3 0-0 6, Ashley Tull 7 2-5 16, Dominique Rodriguez 2 0-0 4, Tasia Jordan 1 3-3 5, Kendra Hatley 2 0-0 6, Naya Haymon 4 0-0 8, Maddie Paulsen 3 1-2 7, Corey Whitlock 4 1-2 9. Totals 40 8-14 93.