DRAKE STEERS NO.1 EAGLES TO SEMIFINALS
PORT HURON, Mich. - The top-seeded Kirkwood Eagles strolled into the semifinals of the NJCAA Division II national tournament Thursday with a 72-49 victory over North Central Missouri.
The Eagles (34-1) will face No. 5 seed Bryant & Stratton (27-3) in the semifinals Friday at 7 p.m. The other semifinal matches No. 7 Morton (29-2) against No. 3 seed Baltimore County-Essex (34-0) at 5 p.m.
The championship game is scheduled for Saturday night.
Kirkwood defeated Bryant & Stratton twice during the regular season, 80-34 and 84-58.
Kortney Drake canned four 3-pointers and led Kirkwood with 19 points against North Central Missouri. Tasia Jordan made all five of her shots and scored 11 points. Ashley Tull collected a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Jada Devine also scored 10 points.
The Eagles outscored North Central Missouri 19-3 in the second period to grab a commanding 34-19 advantage at intermission.
Illinois Central, the No. 4 seed that handed Kirkwood its only loss this season, lost in the first round of the tournament. Johnson County, the No. 2 seed, fell in the second round.
Kirkwood Coach Kim Muhl is seeking his eighth national title.
