NIACC tops Iowa Western, 98-89
MASON CITY - The NIACC women's basketball team stopped a 13-game losing streak to Iowa Western with a 98-89 victory on Saturday in the NIACC gym.
Taylor Laabs scored a career-high 31 points to lead the No. 9 (NJCAA Division II) Lady Trojans to the nonconference win over the No. 18 (NJCAA Divsion I) Reivers.
Before Saturday, the last NIACC win over Iowa Western in women's basketball was a 84-81 win in the 2004-05 season.
NIACC led 41-36 at the half and outscored Iowa Western 57-53 in the second half as the Lady Trojans started 5-0 for the first time since the 2013-14 season. The 2013-14 squad, which placed third at the national tournament, started the season 12-0.
Laabs, whose previous career best was 27 points against Harper College on Nov. 11, scored 14 points in the first half and scored 17 in the second half. She also collected three assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Laabs was the first NIACC player to score 30 points in a game since Anna Eckert scored 31 points against Lake Michigan College on March 15, 2016.
Also for the Lady Trojans on Saturday, Mikayla Homola scored 14 points, UU Longs scored 13 points and Khalilah Holloway scored 10 points.
NIACC forced Iowa Western into 18 turnovers.
NIACC returns to action Tuesday at home against Riverland CC. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
NIACC women's 2017-18 season (5-0 overall)
NIACC 99, Illinois Central 82
NIACC 90, Bay College 61
NIACC 134, Milwaukee Area Tech 45
NIACC 121, Harper College 28
NIACC 98, Iowa Western 89
