IWC women?s basketball suffers road loss to Grand View, 53-36

DES MOINES ? The Iowa Wesleyan College women?s basketball team got outplayed in all categories during at game at Grand View University on Wednesday night, losing to a tough Viking team by a score of 53-36.

Grand View took a quick lead with a 3-pointer after IWC turned the ball over on its first possession.

A 3-pointer by IWC?s Stephanie Russak tied the game, and the Tigers stuck with the Vikings for a while in the first half.

A pair of free throws by Jana Meister tied the score at 12 and Meister?s layup tied it again at 14.

But the Tigers never could get out ahead of Grand View, and with help from five IWC turnovers, the Vikings went on a 15-4 run that took them to a 29-18 lead at halftime.

The Vikings would force 19 turnovers on the night and finish seven steals.

The IWC defense was close behind, forcing 17 turnovers and tallying six thefts, but they couldn?t convert those opportunities into points.

The Tigers shot only 28.9 percent (13-for-45) on the night, while Grand View made 46.0 percent of its shots (23-for-50).

Things didn?t improve for IWC in the second half, as they managed only another 18 points and Grand View tacked on 24.

Ashley Kruse led the Tigers with 13 points in the game, the only IWC player to score in double figures.

Danielle Des Jardins added nine points and Meister chipped in eight. Russak and Mariah Sartorius scored three points apiece.

Des Jardins was the team?s leading rebounder with six. Kruse and Meister grabbed five boards each, while Sartorius and Karson Orrick pulled down one rebound apiece.

As a team, the Tigers were outrebounded by the hosts, 34-25.

Kruse dished three assists on the night, while Sartorius and Orrick each had two steals.

IWC is now 7-16 on the season, while Grand View improves to 16-6.

IWC has three games remaining on its schedule.

The Tigers will travel to Davenport to play St. Ambrose on Saturday at 1 p.m., and they play their last road game on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at AIB in Des Moines.

They finish their season hosting Clarke on Saturday, Feb. 16.