MOUNT PLEASANT – Melanie McCreight (Jr.-Winfield, Iowa) scored 22 points and Anna Jones (So.-Cornell, Ill.) just missed a triple-double as the #15 ranked Iowa Wesleyan College women’s basketball team wore down Ashford University for an 88-64 win Saturday afternoon in Midwest Collegiate Conference play.
Jones had 15 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists and the Tigers shot 66.7% in the second half, taking control after trailing much of the first half. IWC maintained its lead in the MCC standings by moving to 10-1 in conference (17-7 overall) and won on a special occasion as the team wore pink uniforms for the first time ever.
Wesleyan’s pink uniforms were worn as part of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Pink Zone initiative, which raises money for breast cancer research. The Tiger basketball teams also participated in the Coaches vs. Cancer initiative on Saturday, with coaches wearing sneakers in support of the program sponsored by the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
It took some time for IWC to get going against an Ashford team that put forth a game effort throughout. The Saints hit six of their first eight shots, including three three-pointers, and led 15-7 early in the game. It took the Tigers most of the first half to finally take the lead, but Wesleyan finished the half outscoring the Saints 16-4 for a 37-29 halftime lead. McCreight almost single-handedly carried the offense in the first half with 17 points, including four three-pointers over the Ashford zone defense.
The Tigers continued to build the lead early in the second half, and a 14-2 run finished by a layup by Jones made it 53-32 with 13:36 remaining in the game. IWC coasted the rest of the way, leading by no less than 16 points the rest of the afternoon.
McCreight finished with five three-pointers as Wesleyan tied a season high with 10 three-pointers made. Jessi Beachey (Jr.-Fisher, Ill.) gave IWC three players in double figures scoring, while Sheray Brown (Jr.-Detroit, Mich.) came off the bench and grabbed 12 rebounds. Angela Brinkmeyer (Sr.-Hubbard, Iowa) also added nine rebounds, four steals and two blocked shots.
Wesleyan finished the game shooting 48.4% (31-for-64) and made 18 of its last 24 shots after a poor shooting first 22 minutes. The Tigers also out-rebounded the Saints 51-32, winning the rebounding battle for the 19th time in 24 games.
Ashford (8-14, 2-9 MCC) shot 33.9%, making 21 of 62 shots. Kim Fabry led the Saints with 17 points.
IWC faces a tough task Wednesday when it travels to Davenport to face St. Ambrose, currently ranked 17th in NAIA Division II. Game time is 5:30 p.m. An online 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 #15 IWC 88 Ashford 64
