Trojans move to NJCAA Region 11-B title game
- Spotts leads Trojans with 21 points
- Trojans connect on 14 3-pointers
- Trojans play at Ellsworth Monday for regional title
MASON CITY - For the second straight season, the NIACC women's basketball team will play for a regional title.
NIACC (24-6) topped Iowa Western 89-79 Saturday afternoon in the first round of the NJCAA Region 11-B tournament in the NIACC gym. Freshman Reggi Spotts led the Trojans with 21 points and sophomore Karly Holm scored 19 points.
Third-seed NIACC, which fell to Iowa Western in the 2024 NJCAA Region 11-B title game, faces second-seed Ellsworth (25-5) at 5:30 p.m. on Monday in Iowa Falls in the regional title game. Ellsworth stopped Iowa Lakes 67-54 in its first-round regional contest on Saturday.
The winner of Monday's contest moves to the NJCAA North Central-B District tournament at the site of the NJCAA Region 9 champion on Saturday, March 8. The winner of the district tournament moves to the NJCAA Division II national tournament in Joplin, Mo. March 17-22.
In Saturday's win over Iowa Western, the Trojans put five players in double figures for the second straight contest. Sophomores Tori Miller and Keeley Steele both scored 16 points and freshman Kelsey McDonough scored 14 points.
NIACC, which has won seven straight contests, connected on 14 3-point goals, which was one off its season high of 15 3-pointers. McDonough and Spotts both made four 3-point goals and Holm made three 3-pointers.
The Trojans also received two 3-pointers from Steele and one from freshman Tayler Helgemoe.
Miller led the Trojans with eight rebounds and also had six assists, one steal and one blocked shot.Steele had nine assists, six rebounds and three steals.
Holm grabbed rebounds with four assists and one steal. Spotts had three assists, three steals and two rebounds.
Notes: NIACC won all 3 contests this season against Iowa Western ... The Trojans were 16-2 at home this season ... The Trojans have won 12 of their last 14 games ... Ellsworth topped NIACC 76-72 in Iowa Falls on Nov. 30 and 86-77 in Mason City on Jan. 29.
