In a disjointed, stop-and-start contest, the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team did just enough to win, defeating previously-perfect Iowa Western Community College 62-54 on Saturday afternoon at the Student Activity Center on the MCC campus.
The win was the first for MCC against the Reivers under head coach Larry Roberts.
The Tigers (5-1) led the entire game, scoring 45 second into the contest and never looking back, but could not pull away from the Reivers (7-1) at any point. IWCC went nearly eight minutes in the first half without scoring a single point, but MCC could only extend their lead from one to 11 during the Reivers' drought.
IWCC was able to come within two points of the Tigers with under five minutes remaining in the contest, but a 6-0 MCC run and two technical fouls on the Reivers leading to three Tiger points put the game out of reach.
"There just wasn't much of a flow to the game for either team. It was a struggle for both teams, all the way around," said Roberts. "We benefited from a kind of meltdown there, coming down and making three of the four free throws (after the two technicals). It was a big break for us.
"I'm glad we won the game, but it was a ragged game to watch."
MCC's Kwinnyata Mercer led all scorers with 17 points against the Reivers. She was one of three Tigers to register double-digit points, with Tracey Williams adding 15 and Courtney Bobinger 10.
The Tigers led 7-6 less than six minutes into the contest, when the Reivers' eight-minute drought began. Two three-point plays and a 3-pointer from Mercer fueled the 10-0 run, but the Tigers missed an opportunity to blow the game open while the Reivers' side of the scoreboard remained idle.
"We had chances to get separation, and we just never did," said Roberts. "We didn't shoot particularly well, they didn't shoot well, and when neither team is making any shots it makes it tough to watch.
"It's just like, 'Is anybody going to score?'"
The game ambled on through most of the second half, with the Tigers' advantage hovering around double-digits before the Reivers were able to make a move and cut the lead to a basket with 4:57 to play. Two free throws by Nicole Royer made it a two-possession game and back-to-back baskets by Williams pushed the lead to eight and provided some breathing room.
The Reivers seemed to have one final chance to sneak away with a victory when a Valerie Wood 3-point basket made it a 5-point game, but a technical on Amber Peterson for disputing an out of bounds call and another on IWCC head coach Jim Turgeon for arguing allowed for three Mercer free throws to ice the contest.
Mercer had 10 rebounds on the day to give her a second-consecutive double-double. She also lead the Tigers with four steals. Williams had seven boards, four assists and three thefts. Bobinger and Ralissa Nelson both had three assists for MCC.
The Tigers continue a five-game homestand on Monday when they host Central's junior varsity squad.
