Queen Bees Fall in MCC
Championship Game
2/27/06
Box Score
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa -- Iowa
Wesleyan entered Monday night’s MCC Championship having won their last ten
games, the first of which came against these very same Queen Bees. SAU
tried to make things come full circle Monday, as they attempted to hand
the Lady Tigers their first home defeat of the season. The game shifted
back-and-forth for the majority of the night, but in the end, it was Iowa
Wesleyan who came out on top for the third time against SAU this season,
69-60, advancing to the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa.
With the Lady Tigers
(25-7) leading 9-8 just four minutes into the game, SAU took the lead on a
Jody Wulff jumper. The Queen Bees (21-11) led for the remainder of the
half, leading by as many as eight points. Wulff helped SAU to a 32-25
halftime lead, thanks to her 10 points in the period. St. Ambrose shot 45%
(13-29) in the half, while Iowa Wesleyan struggled to take command,
shooting 33% (9-27) in the half.
Iowa Wesleyan was finally
able to chip away at the Queen Bee lead in the second half. SAU finally
relinquished their lead with 11:15 left in the game on a jumper by MCC
Player of the Year Allison Falls. That marked the first Lady Tiger lead in
over 24 minutes. From there, the game went back-and-forth with four lead
changes and five ties during the last 10 minutes of the game. Erin
McFadden put the Lady Tigers up for good with a free throw, making it
56-55. IWC held on for the win, as they hit their free throws down the
stretch to seal the victory. The Lady Tigers made 25 of 35 free throws in
the game. SAU struggled to hit shots when they needed them, going 1 for 14
from the 3-point line in the game. Iowa Wesleyan meanwhile shot 59%
(10-17) from the field in the second half.
Jody Wulff had one of the
best games as a Queen Bee in the senior’s final time on the court. Wulff
finished with a career-high 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting. Jennifer Goetz
scored 14 points, while grabbing eight rebounds. Jena Zientek chipped in
with 11 points and eight boards.
Iowa Wesleyan received
every point from their starters, as the bench was held scoreless. Sara
Goodman finished with a team-high 20 points, including 15 from the free
throw line. Falls scored 18 points for the Lady Tigers, while Katie
Bartsch had 17, including four 3-pointers, which all came at critical
points in the game. MCC Newcomer of the Year Amber Pence added 11 points
and 10 rebounds to help send Iowa Wesleyan to their first National
appearance in the school’s history.
St. Ambrose finishes the
season with 21 wins, which is the second highest win total in the last
four years. Coach Eagan’s group loses five seniors off this season’s team
and will hope to regroup and reload for the 2006-07 season.
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