Metro Sports Report

No. 4 KCC women roll by Ellsworth

Seven different members of the Kirkwood women's basketball team scored  in double figures Thursday night as the fourth-ranked Eagles walloped  Ellsworth, 103-48, in an ICCAC conference game at Johnson Hall.

Kirkwood raised its records to 18-5 overall and 8-0 in the conference with the easy victory. Ellsworth has played 21 games this season and has lost them all, including all eight in the league.

Ju Gaston topped the charts for Kirkwood with 16 points. Leah  Robinson, Haley Mullinnix and Natalie Tomaszewski scored 13 points apiece. Anasha Hurst, Johanna Myers and Brianna Mensen had 11 points.

Hurst collected five assists, five steals and four rebounds in addition to her 11 points. Robinson and Mensen grabbed seven rebounds. Gaston, Mullinnix and Myers made three 3-pointers.

Mustangs nip Graceland on road

LAMONI - The Mount Mercy Mustangs collected a precious road victory in the Heart of America Conference Thursday night with a tense 68-67 victory over Graceland in Lamoni.

Mount Mercy led by 14 points midway through the first half, but Graceland pulled within 68-67 on two free throws with just 10 seconds left in the contest.

The Mustangs committed a turnover with nine seconds remaining, giving Graceland a clear shot at victory, but the Yellowjackets missed a 3-pointer with seven seconds left. The Mustangs got the ball and ran  out the clock.

The victory lifted Mount Mercy to 12-10 overall and 7-9 in the conference. Graceland fell to 12-8 overall and 8-7 in the league.

The Mustangs, who lead all NAIA schools in 3-point shooting, were only 12 of 45 from distance. They were beaten on the backboards (45-32) and  shot only five free throws, but still found a way to win.

Mustang women fall at Graceland

LAMONI - The Mount Mercy women's basketball team lost to Graceland, 68-49, in a Heart of America Conference game in Lamoni Thursday night.

The Mustangs fell to 5-18 overall and 1-16 in the league. Graceland raised its records to 13-10 overall and 7-10 in the conference.

Aaliyah Brown and Aurianna Hampton scored 11 points apiece for Mount Mercy. Caitlin Sudduth had 14 points for Graceland.

Druschel leaves Hawkeyes for Yankees

Desi Druschel has left the University of Iowa baseball program to  accept a job as a minor league pitching instructor with the New York  Yankees organization.

Druschel, originally from Vinton, played baseball at Mount Mercy University and served as Mount Mercy's head baseball coach from 2006  to 2014. He spent four years at Iowa and was the UI pitching coach last season.

"Desi has been an important member of our staff for four years and has made a remarkable impact on our program," Iowa Coach Rick Heller said  in a news release. "His work ethic, knowledge, creativity and loyalty is appreciated."

Joe Migliaccio, who joined the Hawkeyes last August as a hitting instructor, also has accepted a job with the Yankees.

"Though the timing isn't ideal, Desi and Joe had offers they couldn't refuse and we wish them the very best," said Heller. "They were great  Hawkeyes."