April 16, 2024

Southwestern women’s basketball roundup: Spartan women win four of last five entering March

By Tyler Hetu

Brielle Baker (3) drives to the basket for Southwestern earlier in the season in a game against Des Moines Area Community College. (Tyler Hetu)

Southwestern 82, North Iowa Area 58

Southwestern (6-6) beat North Iowa Area Saturday, winning in an 82-58 blowout over the the Trojans (2-10).

The Spartans held a six-point lead entering halftime at 35-29. SWCC extended through the back half of the game, extending to a 10-point lead through the third quarter before outscoring the Trojans by 14 in the fourth quarter.

Leading the charge for SWCC in scoring was Creston native Brielle Baker. She went 9 of 17 from the field, scoring 26 points with 10 rebounds for a double-double.

Whynter Waterhouse-Brennan scored 24 points, going 8-for-13 from the field, with eight rebounds. Alyssa Morris was the third scorer in double digits for the Spartans, scoring 16 points.

SWCC was 21 of 28 from the free-throw line and grabbed 56 rebounds, out-rebounding the Trojans by 29.

Northeast 72, SWCC 66

NORFOLK – The Northeast women (7-4) edged Southwestern Tuesday, Feb. 23, in a 72-66 final.

The Spartans trailed by 10 entering halftime, but gained part of the deficit back with a 22-15 third quarter in their favor. Trailing 56-53, the Spartans were unable to gain any ground, leading to a loss that snapped a three-game winning streak.

Kaylynn Tucker scored 27 points, going 8-for-16 from the floor with 10 made free throws. She had seven rebounds.

Baker scored 12 points and led the team in steals with four. Morris scored 12 points as well, grabbing four boards.

SWCC 61, Iowa Lakes 58

Southwestern avenged a 73-62 Feb. 3 loss to Iowa Lakes (5-7) on Feb. 20, winning 61-58 with a second-half comeback win to win its third straight contest.

The Spartans trailed by seven entering the break, 35-28. The Spartans then held the Lakers to eight points in the third quarter, outscoring them by five to cut the deficit to two. A 20-15 fourth quarter saw SWCC get ahead and hold off Lakes’ best efforts, clinching a win.

Baker was the leading scorer for the Spartans, scoring 18 points with 10 of them coming from the free-throw line. Waterhouse-Brennan scored 16 points and Tucker scored 14 points.

Morris led the team in rebounds with 14 boards. Deja Brown picked up seven boards, coming off the bench.

SWCC 69, Southeastern 50

MOUNT PLEASANT – Southwestern held a one-point lead at the half against Southeastern (3-10) Feb. 17, extending it for a 69-50 win over the Blackhawks.

An 18-9 third quarter and a 20-11 fourth quarter turned a close contest into a comfortable lead for the Spartans, leading to the win.

Baker scored 22 points in the win and had five steals, both leading the team. Tucker scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Waterhouse-Brennan had 12 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.

SWCC 69, Ellsworth 49

Southwestern blew past Ellsworth (3-9) for a 20-point win on Feb. 13, winning 69-49.

The Spartans and Panthers were tied at 16 through the first quarter, but SWCC pulled away in the next frame to make the score 38-23 entering halftime.

The Spartans gained three points in the third quarter and two more in the fourth to make it the 20-point difference.

SWCC was led by Baker’s 21 points and 11 rebounds, both team-highs. Morris scored 19 points, nine coming from the charity stripe, while grabbing 10 boards. Both Baker and Morris had a double-double.