Iowa Wesleyan goes 3-1 at CAC Classic

MT. PLEASANT — Iowa Wesleyan University basketball got a taste of the conference tournament over the weekend. The Tigers hosted the first weekend of the Continental Athletic Conference Classic, one of the few times Iowa Wesleyan can get a look at their league opponents before the tournament next month.

The Tigers hosted 12 games over the weekend, four of which involved the Iowa Wesleyan teams.

The Tiger women went 2-0, beating Wilberforce University 68-56 on Friday before knocking off Haskell Indian Nations University 66-52 on Saturday. The men fell 70-62 against Wilberforce but stormed back to beat Haskell 74-72.

“It really prepares you for the tournament, because you don't have two or three days to practice and scout and prepare,” said Iowa Wesleyan women’s coach Steve Williamson. “This gives you a quick turnaround, and gives you that tournament atmosphere.”

Brittany West gave CAC opponents something to fear, leading the Tiger women to both victories. She scored 27 points against Wilberforce and 20 against Haskell as the Tigers moved to 4-0 on the year against conference teams.

“She's really stepped up,” Williamson said. “Ever since we've gotten back from break, she's killed it.”

Breanna Wendland scored 12 points on Friday. Kyla Moore had 11 and Brielle Baker scored 10 to give the Tigers three more double-digit scorers. Cassi Craft finished with six points, and Maci Kuchta had two.

On Saturday, Moore had 14. Baker scored 11. Kuchta had seven. Wendland and Kraft tallied six apiece, and Maddie Williamson scored two.

The Tiger men bounced back from Friday night’s loss with a huge come-from-behind win on Saturday.

The Tigers trailed by 17 points in the first half, at 29-12, but climbed back to take the lead in the final minutes. The game went right down to the wire, but Carver Locke’s three-point play with 16 seconds left put the Tigers ahead for good.

“We've got a group of guys that do whatever it takes,” said Tiger men’s head coach Alex Huisman. They did a good job of stepping up, making plays and getting enough stops.“

Iowa Wesleyan’s Alex Dentlinger was red-hot, going 8-for-11 from 3-point land to lead the team with 24 points.

“If I feel like I'm open, I'm going to shoot it,” Dentlinger said. “I trust my teammates to get me the ball, and if they have an open shot, I trust them to take it. I just want to win at the end of the day.”

Joey Brown was the only other Tiger in double digits. He finished the night with 10.

The Tiger women are now 12-4 overall and 4-0 against CAC opponents. The men are 8-14 overall and 3-2 in the CAC. Both teams will be in Lincoln, Illinois next weekend for another round of CAC showdowns.