Kirkwood wins womens regional over SWCC

CEDAR RAPIDS — No. 2-ranked Kirkwood pulled away from a narrow margin in the second quarter and went on to defeat the Southwestern women Saturday, 77-52, to earn a spot in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

Southwestern, appearing in its first regional final since its last national tourney appearance in 1992, trailed 41-25 at halftime after Kirkwood outscored the Spartans 22-10 in the second period.

Southwestern played a strong third quarter with a 20-17 advantage to close it to 58-45 and cut it to 10 points (60-50) early in the fourth. Whynter Waterhouse-Brennan fouled out after making successive 3-pointers and Kirkwood ended the game on a 17-2 run in the final 6:38.

“Waterhouse fouling out kind of took the wind out of our sails a little, but our girls fought really hard in a regional championship game,” SWCC coach Bryan Austin said. “We played really well in the first quarter but we didn’t shoot it as well in the second when they went on a run.”

The Eagles (21-1) were led by Kemara Watson’s career-high 21 points. Eagle sophomore Ashley Tull was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Waterhouse-Brennan led a balanced Southwestern team with 14 points and Alyssa Morris had 13. Guards Brielle Baker and Kaylynn Tucker provided 11 and 10 points, respectively, and both were named to the all-tournament team. Baker also had a team-high eight rebounds and finished 8-of-8 at the free throw line. Tucker had a team-high four assists.

“Give Kirkwood credit, they have a balanced team,” Austin said. “We have eight players, and they have 14, and they just keep coming at you with players with fresh legs. They rebounded it really well.”

The Spartans end the season at 12-11, with all but one game against league opponents. Austin said reaching the regional finals in such a balanced group of teams this year was a positive development for the program.

“To be playing in a regional championship game for the first time since 1992 and hosting playoff games in back to back years, and getting the win this year, those are some great accomplishments by this group,” Austin said.

SOUTHWESTERN (FG FT PTS) — Totals — 13 19-22 52. Whynter Waterhouse-Brennan 4 2-2 14, Alyssa Morris 4 4-4 13, Brielle Baker 1 8-8 11, Kaylynn Tucker 2 5-6 10, Miracle Allen 2 0-0 4. FG shooting — 13-52 (25 percent). 3-point goals — 7-20 (Waterhouse-Brennan 4, Baker 1, Morris 1, Tucker 1). Rebounds — 28 (Baker 8, Allen 5, Morris 5, Waterhouse-Brennan 4, Jordan Richards 3). Assists — 9 (Tucker 4, Allen 2, Waterhouse-Brennan 2). Steals — 3 (Baker 1, Morris 1 Tucker 1). Blocked shots — 3 (Allen 2, Baker 1). Turnovers — 16. Team fouls — 16. Fouled out — None.

ELLSWORTH (FG FT PTS) — Totals —27 14-18 77. Kemara Watson 9 0-0 21, Kortney Drake 3 4-4 13, Tatiana Hodges-Johnson 2 5-6 10, Ashley Tull 4 1-3 9, Karsyn Stratton 2 2-2 7, 2 2-2 7, Dominque Rodriguez 3 0-0 7, Maddie Paulsen 3 1-1 7, Tasia Jordan 1 0-0 2, Corey Whitlock 0 1-2 1. FG shooting — 27-69 (39.1 percent). 3-point goals — 9-26 (Watson 3, Drake 3, Stratton 1, Hodges-Johnson 1, Rodriguez 1). Rebounds — 46 (Tull 10, Drake 8). Assists — 21 (Stratton 6). Steals — 8 (Tull 2, Rodriguez 2, Haymon 2). Blocked shots — 6 (Tull 3). Turnovers — 12. Team fouls — 13. Fouled out — None.