The Kirkwood women's basketball team has the talent to enjoy another successful season this year, but the young Eagles have plenty of room for growth.

That was apparent Wednesday night when Kirkwood lost a scrimmage to Mount Mercy University, 50-45, at Johnson Hall.

The Eagles led, 28-26, at halftime, but they scored only 17 points in the second half.

Kirkwood has 12 freshmen on its roster and just three sophomores. The Mount Mercy varsity has three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen, so the Eagles were much younger than their opponents from northeast Cedar Rapids.

Kirkwood showed flashes of good basketball, but there were too many turnovers and too many rushed shots.

"There were spots, but we're just young," said KCC Coach Kim Muhl. "They lost their mind with a little pressure.

"It was good for us. The scrimmage was good for us. But it starts yesterday when you come to practice not ready to go. And this group has a tendency to do that. And when you do that, you aren't dialed in enough."

Ariel Sneed, a transfer from Illinois-Chicago, led Kirkwood with nine points. Mikayla Fallon scored eight points. Danielle Woolfolk had seven points, but the quick 5-foot-3 point guard from Chicago was plagued by turnovers.

"We've got some pieces," said Muhl. "I like the kids. They play hard and they respond. They'll respond tomorrow. But that's the problem. We should have responded Monday."

Makenzie Zeitler led Mount Mercy with 10 points. Abby Herb, a 6-foot freshman from Cedar Rapids Washington, scored nine points for the Mustangs. Alisa Weiland, a 5-4 freshman from Prairie, scored two points for Mount Mercy.