Tiger women knock off Culver-Stockton

CANTON, Mo. — The Iowa Wesleyan women’s basketball team had quite the test on Tuesday night, traveling to play a 3-0 Culver-Stockton team in a marquee clash. The Tigers built a big lead and held off a late Culver-Stockton rush to walk out 67-62 victors.

The Tigers led 19-12 after one quarter and 35-30 at halftime. Iowa Wesleyan’s best quarter came in the third, when they stretched the lead to double-digits, taking a 56-42 lead into the final period.

Culver-Stockton didn’t go down without a fight, cutting the lead all the way down to three points, after the Wildcats were fouled on a 3-pointer and made all three to make it 65-62 with just 17 seconds left. Isabell West, however, sank two free throws in the final seconds to put the nail in the coffin.

West had a huge game down low, scoring 23 points on and pulling down 14 rebounds. She was extremely efficient shooting the ball, going 8-for-12 from the field and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line, and she also blocked a pair of shots.

The game marked the return of Kyla Moore. Last year’s Continental Athletic Conference Player of the Year scored 16 points in her first game back and also came away with four steals.

Megan Teal scored 13 points on the night. Brielle Baker had nine points and 11 rebounds. Breanna Wendland finished with four points, and Faith Watkins had two points and two blocks.

Iowa Wesleyan is now 5-2 on the year. The Tigers will next play at the Our Lady of the Lake Classic in San Antonio, Texas on Monday Nov. 21.