Reivers Defend Home Court in Pair of Conference Routs

Council Bluffs, Iowa

A game that almost wasn't and a game that moved.  Those two contests moved into Reiver Arena over the weekend in Council Bluffs.

Marshalltown and Southeastern came to town for a pair of games against Iowa Western Saturday and Sunday. 

The match-up with the Tigers was nearly a casualty of Covid-19 protocols as Marshalltown and IWCC waited all week for negative tests to be returned in order to play after the Tigers were exposed to the virus the previous week.

A no-contest might have been a better option than the red-hot Reivers.  IWCC's starting unit of Hayley Berfield, Arielle McElroy, Isnelle Natabou, Geassy Germano, and Gabriella Smith were a combined 9-9 from the floor, including 5-5 from three-point range.  Toss in a 14-5 rebounding margin and the Reivers were well on their way to a win, holding a 33-4 edge after one-quarter of play.

Four of five starters finished in double-figures, with Berfield scoring a team-high 17.  Liliana Marques and Ariyah Brooks combined for 17 to lead the bench mob in scoring.

Germano led the team with seven assists, while Berfield and McElroy each helped on five buckets apiece as the team assisted on 32 of 37 made baskets.

"I thought our teamwork was awesome against Marshalltown," said Head Coach Lindsey Vande Hoef, "We were so close to breaking the program record for assist record and I was happy everyone got a chance to get in the mix and contribute."

The Reivers followed their 92-36 win over the Tigers with a meeting that was moved up against Southeastern.  In order to accommodate the Blackhawks' travel schedule, IWCC agreed to meet Sunday instead of the previously scheduled date of March 10th.

Sunday started a lot like Saturday, with the Reivers red-hot from the floor.  IWCC led 12-0 before the Blackhawks could get on the board.  The starting unit knocked down 70% of their attempts in the opening quarter, combining for 20 of the Reivers 29 points en route to a 19-point first-quarter lead and a 52-18 lead at halftime.  

Overall, the Reivers assisted 24 times on 35 buckets in a 92-56 win over visiting SCC.  Ariyah Brooks led five players in double-figures with 15 and led the team on the boards with nine.

Now 7-2 overall, the Reivers head out on the road for a Wednesday night game against Iowa Lakes.  The Reivers topped the Lakers, 74-46, in both teams' season opener in January.  A limited number of fans will be allowed at the Reivers next home game as the ICCAC Athletic Directors voted to allow families of student-athletes to attend home games.  You can watch Iowa Lakes broadcast of the game here - https://www.iowalakesathletics.com/webcast

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