LA CROSSE, WIS. – Iowa Wesleyan College got big games from Ali DeVries (Jr.-Bellevue, Iowa) and Rachel Mitchell (Sr.-Des Moines, Iowa) but committed 31 turnovers in a 71-56 loss at Wisconsin-La Crosse in the Eagles’ Holiday Inn Express Thanksgiving Classic.
The Tigers led early and then battled back from a big first half deficit before falling behind again and dropping to 3-4 on the season. The NCAA Division III Eagles improved to 3-1 overall and won the first ever meeting between the two schools.
DeVries had 18 points and eight rebounds and hit four of seven three-point attempts, while Mitchell had 15 points and 10 rebounds. Heather Larson (Jr.-Canton, Ill.) added 11 points, but those three received little scoring help from the rest of the team, which combined for just 12 points.
IWC got out to an early eight-point lead as Larson hit two three-pointers and Mitchell hit another in an early 14-6 lead. UW-L owned the rest of the half, though, building a lead as large as 19 points at 40-21 and taking a 15-point lead into halftime.
The Tigers made a run after halftime, with three quick three-pointers. Mitchell’s lay-up with 14:02 left in the game made it 46-40, but IWC would go cold, making just four field goals the rest of the game. UW-La Crosse built the lead back up to double digits and led by as many as 20 points late. The Eagles made 15 of 15 free throws in the second half and converted 26 of 28 free throws in the game (92.9%).
Wesleyan made 18 of 44 shots (40.9%) and hit nine of 19 three-point tries (47.4%). The Eagles shot 37.7%, making 20 of 53 shots, but out-scored IWC 26 to 11 at the foul line.
The Tigers play their second and final game in the UW-L Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, facing Carroll (Wis.) University at 3 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.
