Marshalltown, IA—The Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team committed a season-high 33 turnovers that led the Tigers to a 70-54 loss to Mineral Area College on the final day of the 2014 Emerson JUCO Classic at the Student Activity Center Saturday. Jamerka Martin (Milwaukee, WI/Rufus King) posted a game-high 22 points.
The Tigers' (3-2) miscues were prevalent across all 40 minutes of action, committing 17 errors in the first half and 16 more in the second. The Tiger offense kept MCC alive until late in the game as the team combined to shoot 48.8 percent from the floor while limiting the Cardinals to just 34.8 percent shooting.
Martin finished the day with her second-straight performance of at least 20 points. The sophomore knocked down four three-point shots. Jasmin Howe (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) had the hot hand early and finished with 19 points. Courtney Williams-Perry (Milwaukee, WI/Bradley Tech) chipped in 10.
The Cardinals (7-1) opened up play with a 6-0 run, but were countered with a 15-0 run from the Tigers. Howe scored the first eight points of the game for MCC and hit three three-point shots in the first 4:38 of play. Martin took the reins and scored eight straight of her own to boost MCC to a 21-8 lead.
Holding on to its double-digit lead, the Tiger offense hit a roadblock midway through the first half, failing to hit a field goal for over seven minutes as Mineral Area chipped away at the lead. The Cardinals took a 31-28 lead into the locker room.
The two sides traded scoring runs early on in the second half as Mineral Area put together a 6-0 run, only to see the Tigers answer with an 11-0 run to regain the lead at 41-37. The offense stuttered once again midway through the second half. The Tigers scored just two points in a span of 5:39 as Mineral Area built a double-digit lead and held on for the win.
Highland Community College topped Des Moines Area Community College 70-67 in the third game of the classic.
The Tigers will host Ellsworth Community College at 5:00 PM on Nov. 25 as part of a double-header with the men's team.
