Hillsboro, MO—Playing in its first game in 20 days, the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team suffered a 71-53 loss at Jefferson College on Tuesday night. Freshmen Loralei Siliga (Euless, TX/San Leandro) and Alyssa Roth (Clinton, IA/Northeast) combined for 27 points.
MCC used multiple runs to stay within striking distance of the Vikings, but a dismal fourth quarter proved to be costly as the home team ran away with the victory. The Tigers entered the night having won three of their last four, but fall to 6-8 on the year with the loss.
Siliga totaled 15 points, her 11th game in double-digits this season. Roth sparked the Tigers off of the bench early on and finished with 12 points after going 10-11 at the free throw line.
The holiday lag was evident early on for the Tigers as Jefferson built an early 16-6 lead. Roth's entrance into the game ignited the offense as the freshman connected on seven consecutive free throws that led to a tie ball game at 16.
Roth sank two more free throws to start the second quarter, extending her streak to nine straight to start the game. Trailing by eight midway through the second frame, the Tigers put together a quick 5-0 run to keep the contest close. Jefferson eventually pulled away and took a 38-28 lead into halftime.
Trailing by 12 to open the third quarter, sophomore Barbara Araoz (Neuquen, Argentina/Maria Auxilia Dota) scored five straight, including a three-point shot to wake the offense. Siliga drained a three of her own to cap a 10-2 MCC run as the Tigers trailed by just one, 48-47. Despite the run, MCC trailed 51-47 at the end of the third quarter.
Jefferson slowly built its lead back up to double-digits in the fourth quarter with a stingy defense and a solid rebounding effort to hold off the Tigers.
MCC's Midwest road trip continues with a 5:30 PM date at St. Louis Community College on Wednesday night. The Archers topped MCC 76-54 on Nov. 12 in Marshalltown at the Meskwaki Classic.
