WHITING, IND. – The Iowa Wesleyan College women’s basketball team stretched its winning streak to seven games with two wins in the Crimson Wave Holiday Classic hosted by Calumet (Ind.) College this weekend.
The Tigers defeated Marian (Ind.) University and Walsh (Ohio) University on back-to-back days, finishing the tourney as the only team to win both of its games. IWC also improved its record to 9-6 this season in its final games before diving into Midwest Collegiate Conference play.
Wesleyan opened the two-day invitational with a 77-57 win over Marian. The Tigers never trailed in the game, opening up a double-digit lead early on and shooting 56.5% from the field, making 26 of 46 field goal attempts.
Jessi Beachey (Jr.-Fisher, Ill.) had 23 points and made 10 of 14 from the field. Jill Ginder (Jr.-Olney, Ill.) also added 15 points as well as a game-high six steals. IWC also forced Marian (7-6) into 19 turnovers.
The Tigers came back Saturday afternoon with a 76-55 win over Walsh, a team lurking just outside the top 25 in the most recent NAIA Division II coaches’ poll. Wesleyan committed a season-low 12 turnovers and held the Cavaliers to 34.6% shooting in the second half.
Beachey and Ginder both scored 17 points against the Cavaliers (8-4), and both were named to the all-tournament team. Melanie McCreight (Jr.-Winfield, Iowa) also added 13 points, and Anna Jones (So.-Cornell, Ill.) had eight points, four rebounds, five assists and six steals. Beachey also led the team with eight rebounds as the Tigers won the rebounding battle 38-35.
IWC will play its final game of 2009 on Tuesday when it travels to Clinton to face Ashford University in conference play. Game time will be 5:30 p.m.
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.
