Estherville, IA—Loralei Siliga (Euless, TX/San Leandro) poured in 20 points and freshman Kiana Weston (Skokie, IL/Niles North) grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds to lead the Marshalltown Community College women's basketball team to a 73-65 win at Iowa Lakes Community College on Wednesday night.
The Tigers picked up their second win in a row to finish off the first half of the season on a two-game win streak. MCC has won three of its last four to finish the first semester with a 6-7 record.
Siliga scored 10 points in the opening quarter to give the Tigers an early edge. As a team, MCC hit four three-point shots in the opening quarter to take a 22-10 lead over Iowa Lakes through 10 minutes.
Despite a pair of quick three-point shots to open the second quarter from Nisha Doby (Temple, GA/Temple), the offensive production slowed as Iowa Lakes fought its way back into the contest. The Lakers scored 26 points in the frame and took a 36-32 lead into the halftime break over MCC.
The Lakers continued to hold its lead over MCC in the third quarter, but freshman Alyssa Roth (Clinton, IA/Northeast) sparked the Tiger offense late in the frame, scoring four points as part of a 6-0 run to close out the quarter for a 46-45 lead.
The long-range shooting continued in the fourth quarter for MCC as Roth, Siliga, and Estelle Eduardo (Villeurbanne, France/Lycee Ernest Couteaux) all buried three-point shots for the Tigers. Eduardo battled down low to grab an offensive rebound and put home a layup for a 67-60 lead with 1:24 to play and the Tigers closed out the road victory at the free throw line.
Eduardo posted 16 points on the night, her ninth game in double-digits this season. The freshman also added eight rebounds. With Siliga in foul trouble for MCC, Weston played a major role on the glass for the Tigers with five of her rebounds coming on the offensive end.
Roth continued to be an offensive threat for MCC as the freshman chipped in 14 points off of the bench, her ninth game in double-figures. Claudia Morente (Girona, Spain/Institut Juame Vicens Vives) added nine points, six assists, and three steals.
After tying its season-best effort with 10 three-point shots last game, the Tigers eclipsed that mark with 11 treys in Wednesday's win. MCC attempted 30 threes on the night, the second-most this season.
The Tigers welcome the holiday break and will return to action on Jan. 3 for a road trip to Jefferson College (MO).
