CEDAR RAPIDS – One game short.
The No. 12 NIACC women’s basketball team fell one win short of qualifying for the NJCAA Division II national tournament as the Lady Trojans fell to No. 2 Kirkwood 65-52 Sunday afternoon in the NJCAA Region XI final.
Kirkwood, which trailed 36-32 at the half, outscored NIACC 33-16 in the final two quarters to advance to the national tournament for the second straight season. It is the 18th regional title for the Eagles, who are 18-10 in regional championship games.
Kirkwood, which has won 21 straight games, was led by Tayana Wilson with 17 points. Awal Ajak also reached double figures with 10 points for the Eagles (31-3).
NIACC (26-7) was led by freshman Mikayla Homola with 21 points. UU Longs was next in line for the Lady Trojans with eight points.
NIACC was 4 of 35 from 3-point range in the regional title game.
Homola and Longs both were selected to the all-tournament team.
Saturday’s semifinal results
Kirkwood 59, Southeastern 52
NIACC 93, Iowa Central 61
Sunday’s championship
Kirkwood 65, NIACC 52
