The Marshalltown Community College (MCC) women's basketball team took the floor Wednesday night when the Bears of Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) rolled into Marshalltown. The Tigers have struggled lately, dropping their last three games and held an 8-16 record. The Bears were 17-6 entering the contest and were previously ranked 14th in the NJCAA Division II rankings before falling to Iowa Central and Kirkwood last week. The Tigers fell short Wednesday night, falling to the Bears 65-55.
Leading the way for the Tigers was sophomores Loralei Siliga, Alyssa Roth and Claudia Morente. With a depleted roster due to injuries and illness, the three sophomores played all forty minutes of the game. Morente ended the night going 4-9 from the field and 3-4 from the free throw line for 12 points. Alyssa Roth added 14 points while going 5-16 from the field and a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. Roth played a solid defensive game, recording one steal and grabbed seven rebounds.
The Tigers had a standout performance by Loralei Siliga in her forty minutes of play. The sophomore All-American hopeful went 10-18 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line for 26 points on the night. Siliga recorded her eight double double of the season, grabbing eleven rebounds.
DMACC's Molly Mitchell had a productive night going 8-16 from the field and 4-5 from the free throw line for 20 points. The Bears controlled the ball early and limited their turnovers while shooting 36.7% as a team. Capitalizing off turnovers was the difference in the game with the Bears scoring 12 points off Tiger turnovers.
The Tigers will look to pick up a win Saturday, February 10 when Black Hawk College comes to town. The Tigers defeated the Braves 73-50 back in November. Saturday night the men's basketball team will take on the Warriors of Indian Hills in the Student Activity Center. The double header will be used as a fundraiser for Pablo Martinez, the son of MCC Head Soccer Coach Rafael Martinez. In September of 2017, Pablo was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblast Leukemia and has been receiving treatment at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines. There will be a $10 entry fee as well as a 50/50 drawing with proceeds going to the Martinez family. We ask attendees to wear orange in support of Leukemia awareness with the option of buying orange shirts at the gate. Saturday's games will tip off at 5PM and 7PM in the Student Activity Center.