MASON CITY – The NIACC women’s basketball team moved into the top spot in the NJCAA Division II poll Wednesday.
NIACC, which was ranked No. 2 in last week’s poll, topped previously No. 1 Kirkwood 115-111 in overtime last Saturday to move into the top slot heading into the holiday break. The next poll will be released Jan. 8.
Also, NIACC freshman Cortni Rush has been selected as the NJCAA Division II women’s player of the week. Rush (Mason City, Ia.) scored a career-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in NIACC’s win over Kirkwood. She also had two assists and two steals against the Eagles.
Rush was 10 of 23 from the field (3 of 8 from 3-point range) and was 5 of 7 from the free-throw line in the Lady Trojans’ lone game last week.
NIACC (11-0 overall, 2-0 in the ICCAC) returns to action Dec. 28 at the Illinois Central Cougar Holiday tournament. The Lady Trojans face No. 20 Kankakee Community College at 6 p.m. in their first round contest.
A total of seven rated NJCAA Division II teams are in the eight-team field. Other rated teams in the tournament are No. 2 Kirkwood (10-2 overall), No. 6 Illinois Central (7-2), No. 7 Kiskwaukee College (10-2), No. 17 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (7-2) and No. 19 Lake Michigan College (7-1).
NIACC own wins over Kirkwood, Illinois Central (101-86), No. 10 Kansas City (Kansas) Community College (91-87) and DMACC (97-68). The Bears (8-4 overall) are receiving votes in this week’s poll.
NIACC averages 106.5 points per game, which leads all NJCAA Division II teams. The Lady Trojans also lead the nation with 134 3-point goals and rank first with 23.1 assists per game.
NJCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Poll
NIACC
Kirkwood CC
Highland CC
Owens CC
Johnson County CC
Illinois Central
Kiswaukee College
Cape Fear CC
Mesa CC
Kansas City (Kansas) CC
Pima CC
Chesapeake College
Guilford Technical CC
Iowa Central
Louisburg College
Lackawanna College
Cincinnati State Technical and CC 7-2
Dean College
Lake Michigan College
Kankakee CC