Lakers top SWCC women

One bad quarter cost the Southwestern women Saturday in a battle of teams looking to move up in the ICCAC standings before the upcoming regional tournament.

Breaking away from a halftime tie, the Lakers stormed ahead with a 21-9 third quarter on the way to holding off the Spartans, 75-72.

Iowa Lakes was in 10th place in the conference prior to Saturday at 2-14, and 6-19 overall. Southwestern was looking to move up from its seventh-place position at 6-11, and 8-19 overall.

Southwestern held an 18-14 lead through one quarter, boosting its lead to 28-21 midway through the second period.

From there, Iowa Lakes went on an 8-0 run to edge in front, 29-28, before the half ended tied at 33. By the end of the third quarter Iowa Lakes was in front by 12 points (54-42).

Sophomore guard Cassidy Nelson of Lenox, on the bench during much of the third period with four fouls, sparked a Southwestern rally after still facing a nine-point deficit (62-53) in the final stanza.

Nelson sank 3-pointers on consecutive possessions. Brooklyn Hadl and Shyla Moore each scored to keep the rally going, and when Nelson drained another 3-pointer from the right wing with 1:11 to play, the Spartans were suddenly ahead, 68-66.

Tayona Keys got the Lakers back on track with a 3-pointer, and Jordyn Stokes made four clutch free throws in the final minute. Southwestern’s Gabby Dwanyen made a driving layup to cut it to 73-72 with eight seconds remaining. Keys sealed the Laker win with two more free throws with 5.5 seconds left.

“We wanted it too late,” Southwestern coach Darien Wingate said. “You can’t just wait to turn it on. We missed eight layups and missed five free throws. That’s a lot of points when you’re putting them on the line for 31 free throws. We were undisciplined on the foiuls in this game and it came back to haunt us.”

Iowa Lakes made 26 of 32 free throws, while Southwestern was 11 of 16. Emma Kanz, the Lakers’ 6-2 center, scored a game-high 24 points. Nelson, Hadl and Dwanyen each scored 15 points for Southwestern, and Sharmaine Tapling added 13.

The Spartans are off until hosting Iowa Central on Sophomore Day at 1 p.m. Saturday, when Nelson and Mikayla Hearon will be honored. It’s also Pen Pal day as Creston youths who have been pen pals with players will attend the games.

SOUTHWESTERN (72) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 27 11-16 72. Cassidy Nelson 5 0-0 15, Brooklyn Hadl 5 5-5 15, Gabby Dwanyen 5 4-7 15, Sharmaine Tapling 6 0-0 13, Shyla Moore 4 1-2 9, Gracie Hearon 2 1-2 5. 3-point goals — 7 (Nelson 5, Dwanyen 1, Tapling 1). Team fouls — 20 Fouled out — None.

IOWA LAKES (75) — Totals — (FG FT PTS) 22 26-32 75. Emma Kanz 11 2-5 24, Tayona Keys 5 5-5 17, Jordyn Stokes 2 11-12 16, Paige Martin 2 1-2 6, Keana Walton 0 5-6 5, Jazlyn King 1 2-2 4, Alexandria Wolff 1 0-0 3. 3-point goals — 5 (Keys 2, Wolff 1, Martin 1, Stokes 1). Team fouls — 15. Fouled out — None.