NIACC stops Iowa Central in tourney opener
MASON CITY - Survive and advance.
The NIACC women's basketball team survived a 24.6 percent shooting night from the field and topped Iowa Central 56-51 in the first round of the NJCAA Region XI tournament on Tuesday night in the NIACC gym.
NIACC's defense forced Iowa Central into 40 turnovers - 20 in each half.
NIACC (18-12) advanced to Thursday's regional final four contest at DMACC. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
DMACC topped Iowa Lakes 63-53 in its tournament opener on Tuesday.
DMACC won both regular season contests against NIACC. The Bears won 71-58 in Mason City on Jan. 14 and 97-79 on Feb. 11 in Boone.
Sophomore Morgan Cuffe put the Lady Trojans in front 52-51 with 25 seconds remaining. Freshman UU Longs came up with a steal on Iowa Central's next possession.
NIACC converted four free throws in the final seconds to advance to the regional final four for the fourth straight season.
Taylor Laabs led NIACC with 12 points. Adria Stewart and Kelsie Willert both scored 10 points for the Lady Trojans.
Laabs led NIACC with six steals and six rebounds.
Iowa Central (12-18) was led by Michaela Graffunder with 13 points. Rachel Toto was next in line for the Tritons with 12 points.
The win by the Lady Trojans was their fifth straight over Iowa Central. They won all three meetings this season and won two of three meetings last season, including a win in the regional tournament.
NIACC 56, Iowa Central 51
Iowa Central 11 9 15 16 - 51
NIACC 3 14 19 20 - 56
Iowa Central - Rachel Toto 12, Kayla Morgan 5, Michaela Graffunder 13, Sarah Rolling 2, Ashley Turcotte 9, Meagan Woodward 8, Madison Jensen 2. Totals - 18-43 10-14 51.
NIACC - Taylor Laabs 12, Morgan Cuffe 6, Adria Stewart 10, Riley Galvin 8, Courtney Larson 5, Kelsie Willert 10, Hattie Davidson 5. Totals - 17-69 16-20 56.
3-point goals - Iowa Central (5-15): Toto 3, Turcotte 1, Woodward 1. NIACC (6-45): Laabs 2, Stewart 2, Galvin 2. Total fouls - Iowa Central 20, NIACC 15. Fouled out - none.
NIACC's 2016-17 season (18-12 overall)
NIACC 95, Illinois Central 76
NIACC 116, Bryant & Stratton-Milwaukee 76
NIACC 109, Little Priest Tribal College 65
NIACC 102, Lake Land College 68
Northeast CC 98, NIACC 53
NDSCS 61, NIACC 50
Marshalltown 75, NIACC 68
NDSCS 70, NIACC 61
NIACC 103, Dakota-Bottineau 64
NIACC 87, MCC-Penn Valley 73
Johnson County CC 88, NIACC 72
Kalmazoo Valley CC 85, NIACC 70
NIACC 65, South Suburban College 54
NIACC 75, Cincinnati State Tech and CC 71
Iowa Western 77, NIACC 62
DMACC 71, NIACC 58
NIACC 85, Iowa Lakes 80
NIACC 68, Iowa Central 48
NIACC 96, Ellsworth 59
Southeastern 67, NIACC 48
Kirkwood 71, NIACC 65
NIACC 78, Southwestern 61
DMACC 94, NIACC 79
NIACC 98, Iowa Lakes 57
NIACC 76, Iowa Central 54
NIACC 67, Ellsworth 61
NIACC 102, Southeastern 75
Kirkwood 93, NIACC 81
NIACC 85, Southwestern 70
NJCAA Region XI tournament
NIACC 56, Iowa Central 51
