MOUNT PLEASANT – Jessi Beachey (Jr.-Fisher, Ill.) made 9 of 10 shots on her way to 20 points and the #14 ranked Iowa Wesleyan College women’s basketball team finished the regular season with an 83-51 win over Waldorf College Saturday afternoon on Senior Day.
The Tigers forced 31 Waldorf turnovers and overcame a hot start by the Warriors to win their 11th straight game and improve to 22-7 overall. Wesleyan also finished the Midwest Collegiate Conference regular season schedule with a 15-1 record, winning the conference regular season title by two games over second-place Grand View University.
Playing for the first time in a week, IWC came out rusty early on while Waldorf opened up making seven of its first eight shots. The Warriors built an early 17-9 lead on the basis of their good shooting, while the Tigers made just three of their first 14 shots.
Wesleyan would dominate the rest of the way, though, starting with a 38-9 run to close out the first half. IWC held Waldorf without a field goal for nearly 15 minutes and by halftime had turned the early deficit into a 47-26 lead. The Tigers’ trapping defense forced 18 turnovers in the first half alone, and the Warriors made just two of their final 16 shots over the last 15 minutes of the half.
The Tigers breezed through the second half, never letting the lead fall below 19 points. IWC led by as many as 35 points and was able to rest its starters most of the second half. Beachey finished with 20 points in just 17 minutes, and no Wesleyan player appeared for more than 26 minutes.
Anna Jones (So.-Cornell, Ill.) also added 20 points for the Tigers, the lone player besides Beachey to score in double figures. Sheray Brown (Jr.-Detroit, Mich.) led the team with seven rebounds, while Megan Couch (Sr.-Mooresville, Ind.) had five assists.
IWC shot 46.3% from the field, making 25 of 54 shots, and was 30-for-38 from the free throw line (78.9%). Wesleyan also out-rebounded the Warriors 38-28 and had 18 steals.The game was the final regular season home game for seniors Couch, Angela Brinkmeyer (Hubbard, Iowa), Erin Karlsgodt (Brainerd, Minn.) and Sherry Zehner (St. Louis, Mo.).
Waldorf (10-19 overall, 5-11 MCC) was led by Sarah Swanson, who scored 15 points and made 11 of 13 free throws. The Warriors shot 38.3% for the game, making 18 of 47 shots.
The Tigers now get ready for the MCC Tournament and as the top seed will have homecourt advantage throughout the tourney. IWC will open with the winner of Monday’s First Round game between #9 Ashford University and #8 Viterbo (Wis.) University, with the quarterfinal game taking place Thursday at 7 p.m. at Ruble Arena.
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 #14 IWC 83 Waldorf 51
MCC Women's Basketball Tournament Bracket
