DUBUQUE – Iowa Wesleyan College outscored Clarke College by 23 points at the free throw line in a 90-77 road win in Midwest Collegiate Conference play Thursday night.
The Tigers led from start to finish and had five players score in double figures for the second straight game. IWC won its fourth straight game and remains tied for first place in the MCC at 9-1 in conference play (14-8 overall).
Wesleyan shot 53.2% from the field, making 25 of 47 shots in the game. It was at the free throw line where the Tigers really took advantage, though, making 33 of 41 foul shots (80.5%). Clarke went to the line 15 times in the game, making ten (66.7%).
The free throws were necessary due to Clarke’s proficiency on the offensive boards. The Crusaders grabbed 26 offensive rebounds, a big reason for their taking a whopping 86 shots in the game to the 47 for the Tigers. Clarke made 31 of 86 field goals (36.0%).
IWC got a three-pointer from Heather Larson (Jr.-Canton, Ill.) on its first possession and never trailed in the game. The Tigers opened a 10-point lead seven minutes in and led 36-28 at halftime.
The Crusaders (2-21 overall, 1-9 MCC) started the second half on an 8-1 run to get within one point at 37-36 with 16:59 left. Wesleyan responded with a 12-1 run of its own, though, capped by two free throws by Anna Jones (Fr.-Cornell, Ill.). IWC eventually pushed the lead as far as 17 points.
Ali DeVries (Jr.-Bellevue, Iowa) scored a season-high 22 points while Rachel Mitchell (Sr.-Des Moines, Iowa) added 19. Jones scored 14 points and added a team-best five steals, her third straight game with at least five steals. Sherry Zehner (Jr.-St. Louis, Mo.) also chipped in 12 points off the bench and Brittany Okland (Sr.-Kelley, Iowa) tallied 11 points.
The Tigers now travel to face Ashford University on Saturday afternoon. The team’s next home game will be next Wednesday when the Tigers welcome St. Ambrose University to 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.
