• Freshman Whitney Jensen leads Bears with 17 points
• Sophomore Joy Beran has a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds
• DMACC ends season at 21-10

Freshman Whitney Jensen of Remsen led three players in double figures with 17 points as the DMACC women's basketball team saw its season come to a close after a 62-58 loss to Northeast (Neb.) Community College (NECC) in the Region 11-A semifinals March 1 at Norfolk, Neb.

Sophomore Mary Walker of Fonda contributed 15 points and sophomore Joy Beran had a double-double with 11 points and 16 rebounds as the Bears ended play with a 21-10 record.

A disappointing third quarter can be blamed for the loss. DMACC trailed 18-12 at the end of the first quarter but outscored the Hawks 23-11 in the second period for a 35-29 lead at halftime.

A free throw from Jensen and a layup by freshman Breeley Clayburg of Coon Rapids gave the Bears a 38-33 lead a minute and a half into the third quarter, but DMACC went more than five minutes without a point and NECC took advantage with eight unanswered points for a 41-38 lead with 3 minutes, 21 seconds remaining in the period. DMACC got a 41-41 tie on a jumper by Clayburg and a free throw from Walker and closed the period down one, 42-41.

The two teams were never separated by more than five points in the fourth quarter. DMACC got a three-point basket from freshman Reese Stevens of Tulsa, Okla., for a one-point lead at 54-53 with 4:11 to play. The Bears had a 58-57 lead on Beran's layup with 2:03 left but went scoreless the rest of the way as NECC came back to go 3-0 against the Bears this season.

All three games were relatively close with NECC coming away with a 63-57 decision Dec. 4 inside the DMACC gymnasium and topping the Bears 70-62 Jan. 22 at Norfolk, Neb.

DMACC shot 39 percent from the field, hitting 23 of 59 field goal attempts. The Bears were 7-of-26 from three-point range and 5-of-8 from the free throw line.

NECC, which will play top-ranked and undefeated Kirkwood Community College (KCC) for the Region 11-A championship tonight at Cedar Rapids, shot 42 percent from the field, making 23 of 55 field goal attempts. The Bears were 8-of-19 from three-point range and 8-of-14 from the free throw line.

DMACC had a 31-29 advantage on the boards with Beran's 11 rebounds leading the Bears. Jensen led the Bears in assists with three and she, Walker and Beran had two steals apiece.