Marshalltown, IA—Four players scored in double figures as the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team improved to 5-1 on the year with a 67-58 victory over North Central Missouri College on Tuesday night at the Student Activity Center. Jasmin Howe (Millicent, Australia/Millicent) led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers.
Howe's double-double was the second of her young career for the Tigers. Mackenzie Gott (Oskaloosa, IA/Oskaloosa) added 14 points and eight rebounds while Jamerka Martin (Milwaukee, WI/Rufus King) scored 13 and Ashley Salgado (Ottumwa, IA/Ottumwa) chipped in 12. Salgado contributed on both ends of the court for the Tigers, leading MCC with eight assists and seven steals, the second most in her two-year career.
The Tigers converted just one field goal in the first six minutes of the contest until Howe entered the game and knocked down a three-point shot to tie the game at six. Two possessions later Rusty Henio (Tama, IA/Pine Hill) hit a jumper to give MCC a lead that eventually increased to double digits.
With MCC leading 17-15, Ilsie Calles (Van Nuys, CA/Fulton Prep) entered the game and drilled a three-point shot to ignite a 13-2 run for the Tigers. The Pirates battled back to cut the deficit to single digits but Salgado knocked down a pair of free throws just before halftime to give the Tigers a 34-24 advantage at the break.
Martin hit a pair of three-point shots in the opening minutes of the second half as MCC looked to pull away. After Martin's second trey, the Pirates rattled off nine of the next 11 points to cut MCC's lead to two, 50-48. Martin stepped up again for the Tigers, scoring five straight points, including her third three-point shot of the night to put MCC back up by seven.
The MCC defense prevailed down the stretch, led by Courtney Williams-Perry. The freshman held Redditt Samone, the Pirates' leading scorer without a point and just one field goal attempt over the final 7:06. Samone had scored 22 points, including 16 in the first half up until that point. Williams-Perry finished the night with seven rebounds in 13 minutes of action.
MCC forced 20 turnovers on the night, scoring 24 points off the Pirates' mishaps. The Tigers kept their opponent to just one three-point shot on 14 attempts on the night.
Over her last three games, Gott is averaging 20 points and 12 rebounds.
The Tigers are off for the next two days with the Thanksgiving break but will travel to Kansas City, MO for the MCC-Penn Valley Classic this weekend. The Tigers will take on Lewis & Clark CC at 2:00 PM on Friday and MCC-Penn Valley at 12:00 PM on Saturday.
