FOREST CITY – Anna Jones (So.-Cornell, Ill.) scored a career high 31 points and Iowa Wesleyan College shot 64.6% from the field in an 89-53 win over Waldorf College Saturday afternoon at Hanson Fieldhouse.
The Tigers, ranked 23rd in the most recent NAIA Division II coaches’ poll, took over late in the first half and dominated the second half to win for the 12th time in 13 games. IWC improved to 14-7 overall, 7-1 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference, and took over sole possession of first place in the conference. The Tigers entered the weekend tied with St. Ambrose University for the top spot but the Queen Bees lost to Clarke College Saturday afternoon to drop one game behind Wesleyan.
IWC shot the ball well from the start, making 69.6% of its shots (16-for-23) in the first half and 60.0% (15 of 25) in the second half. Eleven players dressed for the game and all scored as the Tigers built a lead as large as 40 points in the second half.
Wesleyan only trailed briefly in the opening minutes but was locked in a close game until the final few minutes of the first half. Leading 28-27 at the six minute mark, the Tigers finished the half on a 16-4 run and took a 44-31 lead into halftime.
IWC blew the game open at the start of the second half, extending that run with 9-0 run over the first four minutes before the Warriors finally scored. Wesleyan extended its lead to 68-36 on two free throws by Jones with 11:05 remaining and led by as many as 40 points on two occasions in the final minutes.
Jones scored her 31 points on 10 of 12 shooting, getting inside the Waldorf defense time and again to score or draw fouls. She made 9 of 10 from the free throw line and also hit both of her three-point attempts while also finishing with nine rebounds.
Jill Ginder (Jr.-Olney, Ill.) and Sherry Zehner (Sr.-St. Louis, Mo.) both added 12 points for the Tigers. Angela Brinkmeyer (Sr.-Hubbard, Iowa) started in place of Sheray Brown (Jr.-Detroit, Mich.), who sat out with an injured ankle, and the senior responded with a team-high 11 rebounds and also added five assists.
Wesleyan also limited Waldorf to 30.9% shooting (21 of 68) for the game. IWC forced 16 turnovers but frequently took the hosts out of their game with a trapping defense that left the Warriors rushed on offense. Aubrey Draves had 13 points to lead Waldorf (6-14, 2-6 MCC) while Rachel Hannam had nine points and 11 rebounds.
The Tigers continue a busy stretch that will include four games in eight days, traveling next to William Penn University on Monday night to face a hot Lady Statesmen team that has won three straight. Game time in Oskaloosa will be 5:30 p.m. IWC won the first meeting between the teams 77-62 on Dec. 2 in Mount Pleasant. A live broadcast will be available online 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 #23 IWC 89 Waldorf 53
