Marshalltown, IA—The Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team erased a 10-point deficit in the second half to record its first Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) victory of the year with a 70-61 victory over Ellsworth Community College. Mackenzie Gott (Oskaloosa, IA/Oskaloosa) and Courtney Williams-Perry (Milwaukee, WI/Bradley Tech) combined for 32 rebounds on the night to help the Tigers improve to 10-1.
Gott and Williams played a pivotal role in the Tigers' comeback in the second half. Gott scored 13 of her 19 points go in the final frame while Williams-Perry grabbed nine rebounds in the second. Gott came up with her seventh double-double after grabbing a career-high 15 rebounds. Williams-Perry also produced a career-best with 17 rebounds after coming off the bench. Williams-Perry collected 13 of her rebounds on the defensive end.
While the two forwards contributed down low, Jasmin Howe (Millicent/Australia/Millicent) provided the offense in the second half. The freshman scored a career-high 24 points on the night, 16 coming in the second half. Howe connected on nine of her 17 attempts, including 3-6 from beyond the arc.
As a team, the Tigers outrebounded the Panthers 50-36 with a 14-5 advantage on the offensive glass. Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa) recorded five assists as the Tigers provided 16 helpers on 26 field goals.
MCC held a double-digit lead of its own in the first half after a three-pointer from Jasmin Howe (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) put the Tigers up 24-14. The Panthers stormed back late in the first half with a 14-5 run in the final seven minutes, capped by a three-pointer from Molly Greenfield to tie the game at 31 at halftime.
ECC scored the first seven points of the second half and built their lead to 10 at the 12:09 mark, leading 47-37. The Panthers continued to hang on to their lead until Howe converted a three-point play at the 6:40 mark to tie the game at 53. The Tigers scored the next seven points with four from Gott and Ilsie Calles (Van Nuys, CA/Fulton Prep) knocked down a three. The Tigers drained eight of their final 10 free throws in the final 3:39 to finish off the comeback.
The Tigers entered the day receiving votes in this week's NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball Poll and proved they belong with their eighth straight victory. The game was the first home contest for the Tigers in two weeks as MCC improved to 5-0 at the Student Activity Center.
The Tigers return to the road with a critical early-season ICCAC showdown with Iowa Central at 1:00 PM on Dec. 14. The Tritons entered the week ranked No. 14 in the NJCAA Division II poll.
