March 22, 2023
KCC WOMEN ROLL INTO NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
PORT HURON, Mich. - The Kirkwood Eagles crushed Bryant & Stratton, 86-43, in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division II women's national tournament Wednesday night.
Kirkwood (31-2) will face Baltimore County-Essex in the semifinals Friday at 5 p.m.
Baltimore County-Essex defeated Kirkwood, 59-54, on a neutral floor in Illinois in late December and is seeded No. 2 in the national tournament. The Eagles are seeded No. 3.
Kirkwood jumped to a 22-4 lead in the first quarter Wednesday and cruised to the 43-point victory with a balanced attack.
Jada Devine led the parade with 14 points. Emily Dreckman scored 13, Demetria Prewitt 12 and Tasia Jordan 10 to give the Eagles four players in double figures. Makayla Mau, Alycia Patterson, and Zhakyla Evans scored eight points apiece and Nilah Coleman netted seven.
Jordan snared nine rebounds and Prewitt grabbed eight. Patterson collected six assists. Kirkwood dominated the backboards, 41-18, and committed only seven turnovers. Karsyn Stratton, who missed the first game of the tournament with a sprained ankle, played 13 minutes Wednesday.
The Eagles are seeking their ninth national title. The championship game is Saturday.
