Marshalltown, IA—Three different players scored in double-figures for the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team, but the Tigers fell at home to John Wood Community College 60-56 on Saturday afternoon. MCC drops its record to 6-10 on the year.
Alyssa Roth's (Clinton, IA/Northeast) scoring prowess continued as the freshman matched a career-high with 19 points, her fourth-straight game in double-figures. Estelle Eduardo (Villeurbanne, France/Lycee Ernest Couteaux added 12 points while Claudia Morente (Girona, Spain/Institut Juame Vicens Vives) chipped in 10 points and five assists.
The Tigers took an early lead to start the afternoon as Eduardo buried a three for a 7-5 MCC lead in the opening quarter. Another triple from Eduardo led to a 14-9 lead through the first frame.
After John Wood (5-10) pulled within two, 18-16 in the second quarter, Morente received a friendly bounce on a corner three to extend MCC's lead. The Blazers eventually took a 22-21 lead late in the quarter, but a pair of threes from Roth and Morente got the Tigers back on track. Sophomore Barbara Araoz (Neuquen, Argentina/Maria Auxiladota) buried a deep three-point shot to beat the halftime buzzer and the Tigers went into the locker room with a 32-26 advantage.
MCC maintained its lead through the early portions of the third quarter, but the Blazer defense limited the Tigers late and used a 12-2 run to close out the stanza with a 46-42 lead.
Trailing by 10 with just over two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, MCC battled its way back with a full court press. After a layup from Loralei Siliga (Euless, TX/San Leandro), Roth stole the inbound pass to bring MCC within eight. Siliga's lay-in with 20 seconds left made it a one possession game, but the Blazers managed to hold off the Tiger rally.
The Tiger defense stood out on Saturday afternoon, forcing 26 John Wood turnovers. Roth led the way with four steals while Araoz added three thefts for MCC.
MCC heads to Ellsworth Community College on Jan. 11 for a 5:30 PM matchup against the Panthers.
