STERLING, KAN. – Iowa Wesleyan College bounced back from a poor performance against nationally ranked Sterling (Kan.) College on Friday to defeat Tabor (Kan.) College Saturday and split its games in the Warrior Classic.
The Tigers lost to Sterling, 87-53, in their tourney opener on Friday, but bounced back to defeat the Bluejays Saturday by a 79-59 score. IWC left Kansas with its season record still even at 3-3.
IWC had five players score in double figures against Tabor and forced 30 turnovers to put together a convincing win on Saturday. Brittany Okland (Sr.-Kelley, Iowa) had 15 points and eight rebounds and Sherry Zehner (Jr.-St. Louis, Mo.) added 13 points.
Anna Jones (Fr.-Flanagan, Ill.) added 12 points and seven assists in her first collegiate start and Heather Larson (Jr.-Canton, Ill.) also scored 12 points. The Tigers out-rebounded Tabor (1-5) by a 36-31 margin and also shot 20-for-25 from the free throw line (80.0%).
The win came a day after Sterling, ranked 11th in the NAIA Division II coaches’ poll to start the season, shot 50.9% and out-rebounded IWC 38-28 in leaving no doubt about the outcome in the two teams’ second meeting in a week. The Tigers and Warriors met a week earlier in a tourney in Seward, Neb. and went to overtime before Sterling prevailed, but this time Sterling led 40-24 at halftime and cruised to victory.
Larson led the Tigers with 11 points and was the only player in double figures against the Warriors (3-2). Wesleyan shot 38.3% (18 of 47) and committed 28 turnovers.
IWC returns to the court this weekend for the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Tournament Friday and Saturday in La Crosse, Wis. The Tigers will face the host school Friday at 7 p.m. and then will play Carroll (Wis.) University Saturday 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.
