The Southwestern Spartans women's basketball team faced a tough challenge on the road, falling 94-50 to the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Bears on January 25 at The Den. The loss drops the Spartans to 2-19 overall and 1-10 in ICCAC play, leaving them in ninth place in the conference standings.

Sophomore forward Brooklyn Hadl led the Spartans offensively with 20 points and 9 rebounds, including a solid 8-of-10 performance from the free-throw line. Sharmaine Tapling contributed 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Olivia Heartwell added 9 points and 4 boards. Despite their efforts, the Spartans struggled with efficiency, shooting 28.4% from the field and 12.5% from beyond the arc.

The Bears capitalized on their depth, with nine players scoring at least five points. DMACC's Mary Walker paced the team with 23 points, including two three-pointers and a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. The Bears' dominance on the glass, securing 60 rebounds to the Spartans' 39, played a significant role in their commanding victory.

The Spartans showed resilience in the fourth quarter, putting up 18 points, their highest-scoring period of the game. However, early turnovers and defensive breakdowns allowed DMACC to build a substantial lead in the first half, from which Southwestern could not recover.

Southwestern will take to the road on January 29 to take on Marshalltown Community College, looking to regroup and break their current losing streak. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 PM.