DUBUQUE – Iowa Wesleyan College dominated the rebounding battle and limited Clarke College to 29.4% shooting on its way to a 78-44 win over the Crusaders in Midwest Collegiate Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Kehl Student Center.
The Tigers out-rebounded the Crusaders 55-22 and never trailed, winning their third straight game and improving to 5-6 overall, 2-0 in the MCC. Clarke dropped to 2-9 overall, 0-2 in conference play.
Jessi Beachey (Jr.-Fisher, Ill.) was the only Wesleyan player to score in double figures, putting in 22 points in 22 minutes of play. All 14 players on the roster played at least six minutes and 13 players scored as part of a balanced effort for the Tigers.
IWC shot 51.7% (15-for-29) in the first half in building a 44-21 lead at halftime. Beachey scored 17 of her points in the first half and Wesleyan out-rebounded the Crusaders 27-9 in the first 20 minutes.
The Tigers eventually led by as many as 36 points in the second half against a shorthanded Clarke team that had just nine players suited up. IWC’s reserves played most of the last 15 minutes of the game as the starters received a break.
Sheray Brown (Jr.-Detroit, Mich.) scored only four points but dominated the glass with 15 rebounds. Wesleyan had 20 offensive rebounds which it turned into 20 second chance points.
Jill Ginder (Jr.-Olney, Ill.) and Susie Francescon (So.-Moline, Ill.) were the next-highest scorers behind Beachey with eight points each. Anna Jones (So.-Cornell, Ill.) added seven points and had a game-high six assists.
The Tigers finished the game shooting 28 of 63 (44.4%) and also made 16 of 21 free throws (76.2%). Clarke made 15 of 51 shots, including 8 of 29 in the first half (27.6% as Wesleyan built the big halftime lead. Casey Breitbach led the Crusaders with 24 points.
IWC will return to non-conference play on Wednesday when it travels to Canton, Mo. The Tigers will face Culver-Stockton (Mo.) College at 7 p.m. A live audio broadcast will be available at www.iwc.edu/onlinemedia.
For more information regarding the IWC basketball programs or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
Box score IWC 78 Clarke 44
