The Marshalltown Community College Women's Basketball team went 0-2 at home this week falling at #1 Kirkwood on Wednesday, March 3rd 74 to 39, and on Saturday, March 6th to Southwestern 71 to 62. It was considered a week of positives despite the losses, as the Tigers put together their best two games of the season.
In the Tigers game against the Eagles, MCC took the approach of slowing the game down, trying to limit the time the Eagles had the ball, typically not running offense until there was under 10 seconds on the shot clock. The strategy seemed to work as the Tigers were down eight after the first quarter and outscored the Eagles 18 to 17 in the second, finding themselves down 36 to 26 at the half. The Eagles would figure it out in the second half on defense, as they held the Tigers to single digits to pull out the victory.
It was a double-double night for Eva Zaragoza, as she was the sparkplug that ignited the Tigers with 18 points in the second quarter. She would add 13 points and 10 rebounds in the second half. Henni Blakey had the 3-point shot falling as she would knock down 4 on the contest and finish with 12 points and 4 assists. Finally, it was a 9 point and 6 rebound night for Carolina Rodriguez-Sanchez that would round out the scoring for the Tigers in the loss.
A total team effort would describe the Tigers' 71 to 62 loss to Southwestern on the 6th as the Tigers had three starters in double figures and a strong defensive effort to keep the Tigers close. It was a career day for Zaragoza who had career highs with 27 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Tigers. A 12 point contest was what the Tigers got from Blakey as she hit four 3-pointers in the game. Rodriguez-Sanchez dominated the second half for the Tigers as she was the spark they needed and would finish with 10 points and 8 rebounds. A stat sheet stuffing game best describes what Carla Dorta-Perez was able to do as she finished with 7 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals.
The Tiger women travel to NIACC on Saturday, March 13 for a 1 pm tip-off in Mason City.
