Dylan Longley won’t play the “what-if” game, but he couldn’t help but wonder.

The Marshalltown Community College women’s basketball team fell 78-59 to No. 21-ranked Rock Valley College on Friday night at the Emerson Classic, hanging tough with a rated foe before a banged-up roster ran out of steam.

The Tigers (3-2) played without their top scorer from a year ago in Shenell Stewart, a sophomore point guard who’s leadership might have gone a long way to help her squad against a savvy opponent.

It couldn’t hurt to have her scoring contributions, too.

“Even in the fourth quarter it was an 11-point ballgame with five minutes left, I think, so we were right there,” said Longley, MCC’s third-year head coach. “So I think if we have Shenell, that game’s a lot different.

“We’re young. Some of our talented players are freshmen, and those kids need college experience. I thought our body language got a little bit out of whack, and we started finding excuses instead of answers, and that’s where Shenell really helps a lot.”

The bulk of MCC’s scoring on this night came from Jaeda Turner, a freshman guard averaging 14.3 points per game. She poured in a game-high 27 points against Rock Valley, including 16 in the first half as the Tigers went into the intermission tied at 38-all.

Turner scored the first bucket of the second half before Rock Valley (4-2) got the next 10 to take the lead for good. The Golden Eagles took an 11-point advantage into the fourth quarter, 58-47, but had to hold off MCC’s frenetic comeback attempt.

Down 64-48, the Tigers scored eight-straight to get within 64-56 with 5:45 left to play. Back-to-back 3-pointers by MCC’s Turner and Jazmine Williams made the Golden Eagles take a timeout, and they eventually put away the win.

Jazelle Young had 18 points and a game-high 22 rebounds to lead Rock Valley, which dominated on the glass. Amadea Montijo added 14 points, while Hannah Morgan (13) and Ava Sims (11) contributed double-digit scoring off the bench.

DiNiya Gary stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, seven rebounds, 11 assists and two steals for the Golden Eagles.

“I was really proud of us,” said Longley. “I thought we played well. We could beat that type of team.

“I think when we’re fully healthy, I do believe we’re one of the top teams in the conference.”

Ariyanah Custard tallied 15 points for MCC, though 14 of them arrived in the first half. Williams finished with nine. Kenijae Cherry, the Tigers’ only other sophomore, had a team-leading 10 rebounds, while Olivia Hartwell added seven boards.

The Tigers return to action in the Emerson Classic with today’s 5 p.m. game against Parkland College. The No. 19 Cobras handled Iowa Lakes 90-71 in the first game of the day.