Top-Seeded Eagles Advance to Region 11-A Finals
Cedar Rapids, IA- The #1 seeded Kirkwood Women's Basketball team took care of business Saturday afternoon inside Johnson Hall, defeating the #8 seeded Ellsworth Panthers 48-38 in the DII Women's Basketball Region 11-A Tournament semifinals. With the win, the Eagles advance to the Region 11-A Championship tonight, March 2nd, where they will host the #5 DMACC Bears for an automatic bid to the national tournament.
Kirkwood set the tone early with its defense, limiting Ellsworth to just five first-quarter points while building a 13-5 advantage after one. The Eagles carried a 21-15 lead into halftime, controlling the tempo in a physical postseason matchup.
Defensive Identity on Display
The Eagles' defensive effort was dominant from start to finish. Ellsworth shot just 16.7% from the field for the game and struggled to find rhythm offensively all afternoon. Kirkwood forced 19 Panther turnovers and turned those into 23 points off turnovers, creating separation through pressure and activity.
Kirkwood also controlled the paint, outscoring Ellsworth 24-8 inside, and consistently disrupted passing lanes with 12 steals. The third quarter proved pivotal, as the Eagles held the Panthers to just six points and extended their lead heading into the final frame.
Balanced Offensive Attack
Offensively, the Eagles were paced by Kennedy Blakely and Olivia Wren, who each scored 14 points. Blakely shot an efficient 6-of-12 from the field and knocked down two three-pointers, while Wren was aggressive attacking the rim and at the free-throw line, connecting on seven of eight attempts and adding six rebounds and three steals.
Whitney Sullivan contributed eight points and three blocks, anchoring the interior defense, while Bra'Ja Torry added four assists and two steals to help facilitate the offense. Dasia Foster provided a spark off the bench with four points on efficient shooting.
After leading by six at the break, Kirkwood steadily created separation in the second half, maintaining control down the stretch to secure the 10-point victory and punch their ticket to the finals.
Next Up
Kirkwood now turns its attention to tonight's Region 11-A Championship matchup against the #5 seeded DMACC Bears inside Johnson Hall. Tip-off is set for March 2nd, with a trip to the national tournament on the line.
