Sophomore Delia Ania-Gaja came up big down the stretch with 10 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds for the win over top-ranked Kirkwood.
Posted: Nov 06, 2017
SEDALIA, MO - The Reivers took down the top-ranked Kirkwood Eagles 55-52 to open the 2017-2018 season at the State Fair Tip-Off Classic. Kirkwood Community College came into the game the #1 ranked NJCAA D2 team in the country and a 37-game winning streak after winning the D2 National Championship last year.
Both teams were sluggish from the start on the offensive end with Kirkwood taking the lead into the break 31-23. Trailing by eight at halftime, the Reivers came alive in the third quarter scoring 22 points following sophomore Jazza Johns back-to-back drives to the rim. Still trailing by one, sophomore Delia Ania-Gaja took control of the fourth quarter sinking a triple and making a key assist for the go-ahead bucket to Miya Bull with less than three seconds on the clock. Kirkwood's three attempt to tie was blocked at the buzzer by freshman Kiara Dallmann.
Kirkwood was led in scoring by Awal Ajak with 15 points on 5 of 13 shooting while Jazza Johns topped the Reivers scoring list with 13 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. Ania-Gaja finished the day with 10 points, 7 assists and 4 rebounds.
The Reivers take on Shawnee Community College on Saturday, Nov. 4th at 1pm in the final game of the State Fair Tip-Off.