Posted: Jan 19, 2025
#1 Kirkwood Overpowers Northeast
Cedar Rapids, IA-
Kirkwood 79
Northeast 50
Kirkwood set a new NJCAA DII record for most consecutive wins with a 79-50 victory over #25 Northeast on Saturday afternoon in a jam-packed Johnson Hall.
The victory, which was the Eagles' 40 consecutive, surpassed the national record (39) that was set by Kirkwood during the 2008 & 2009 seasons.
Kirkwood's last loss was last January 3rd when they fell to Iowa Western 67-51 in Council Bluffs.
The win also tied another NJCAA DII record for most consecutive home victories (63). A record that was set by Lackawanna (PA) from 1991-97.
As for the game, Kirkwood trailed just once 7-6 2:12 into the game, but back-to-back baskets by sophomore Jenna Twedt gave the Eagles a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the game.
Kirkwood (19-0 / 9-0) would lead 22-15 after a quarter of play.
The Eagles' lead reached double figures midway through the second quarter, but Northeast cut the lead to 30-24 with 3:56 remaining in the half.
Kirkwood responded with an 18-4 run to close the half and take a 45-28 lead at halftime.
The Eagles' run continued right after halftime as they forced a Northeast timeout early in the third quarter following a layup by sophmore Lizzy Puot increasing the lead to 52-30.
A three-pointer from the left wing with 4:07 remaining by sophomore Kaliyah Sain increased the Eagles lead to 62-37.
Kirkwood held a comfortable 69-45 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
Twedt led four Eagles in double figures with a game-high 23 points.
Sain finished with 16 points while Puot added 15 and sophomore Ella Pritchard finished with 14 points.
Freshman Eva Steffensen chipped in four points, while sophomore Sam Veto contributed three points.
Sophomores Ella Kissell and Shyla Moore rounded out the scoring for the Eagles with two points each.
Freshman Olivia Wren led the Eagles with five assists.
The Eagles won the battle on the boards 46-29, led by Puot's game-high nine rebounds. Sain & Pritchard both finished with eight a piece.
Kirkwood returns to action again on Wednesday when they host Iowa Western at 5:30 pm in Johnson Hall.
