#2 Eagles Answer the Challenge on the Road in Boone
Boone, IA- The #2 Kirkwood Eagles Women's Basketball Team delivered a gritty road performance Saturday afternoon, earning a 59–53 win over #13 Des Moines Area Community College in a pivotal ICCAC matchup in Boone, Iowa. After a back-and-forth opening quarter, Kirkwood took control with a decisive second quarter and never fully relinquished the lead.
DMACC edged ahead 15–13 after the first period, but the Eagles quickly flipped the script in the second. Kirkwood's defensive pressure and balanced scoring fueled a 21–10 run in the quarter, turning a two-point deficit into a nine-point halftime advantage at 34–25.
Olivia Wren paced the Eagles with 14 points, knocking down a pair of three-pointers and converting all six of her free-throw attempts. Kaci Crum was dominant inside, scoring 13 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds. Kennedy Blakely added 10 points and played a key role in running the offense, dishing out six assists and recording two steals.
Defense was the backbone of the win for Kirkwood. The Eagles held DMACC to just 31.8 percent shooting from the field and limited the Bears to three made three-pointers on the afternoon. Kirkwood also won the rebounding battle and forced 15 DMACC turnovers, repeatedly disrupting the Bears' offensive rhythm.
DMACC made a late push in the fourth quarter, trimming the margin with a 19-point frame, but Kirkwood stayed poised down the stretch. Timely stops and solid execution at the free-throw line allowed the Eagles to close out the six-point victory and remain unbeaten in conference play.
Up Next
Kirkwood returns home to Johnson Hall on Wednesday, January 7th, hosting #20 Iowa Lakes in a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
