Cedar Rapids, Iowa (March 2, 2016)-The Kirkwood women’s basketball team easily defeated Ellsworth 103-51 in the first round of the 2016 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Region XI Tournament. The top-seeded Eagles advance to face their rival the DMACC Bears in the semifinals on Thursday (3/3) in Johnson Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Kirkwood, ranked third in the nation, finished the regular season with a 26-5 overall record and went 13-1 in conference games. Head Coach Kim Muhl’s team clinched the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference regular season championship on February 22 following a convincing 88-51 victory against Iowa Central. The team is looking for their second consecutive berth in the national tournament. Last year Kirkwood finished fifth in the nation.
The Eagles will play DMACC (3-25, 0-14) in the semifinals. Kirkwood won both regular season matchups against the Bears.
The victor moves on to the championship game to play against the winner of second-seeded NIACC and third-seeded Iowa Central. Tipoff for the championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m.
For more information on Kirkwood Eagles Athletics, go to www.kirkwoodeagles.com.
*****NJCAA Division II Region XI Tournament Second Round*****
What: Kirkwood (27-5, 13-1) vs. DMACC (26-6, 10-4)
Where: Johnson Hall on Kirkwood’s main campus
When: 5:30 p.m.