MASON CITY - The fourth-ranked Kirkwood women's basketball team may have paid a steep price for its 73-71 victory over NIACC Saturday in the conference opener for both schools.

All-American Ariel Sneed suffered a knee injury with five seconds left in the game and could be lost for an extended period of time, according to a team spokesman.

Kirsten Larson popped in five 3-pointers and scored 19 points as Kirkwood (13-4, 1-0) won for the ninth straight time. Taylor Silva contributed 13 points with three 3-pointers and five assists. Peyton Bockholt scored 10 points.

Sneed, who has signed with Southern Mississippi, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. She hurt her left knee in a scramble for the ball in the final seconds.

The game was tied at halftime, 43-43. Larson hit three straight 3-pointers as the Eagles opened a lead in the second half.

Kirkwood led 73-68 in the final seconds. NIACC hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to make it 73-71.

Sierra Ford-Washington led seventh-ranked NIACC (10-4, 0-1) with 33 points.

KIRKWOOD (73): Sneed 2 6-7 10, Downs 1 0-0 2, Isaac 1 0-0 2, Silva 5 0-1 13, Oberman 0 0-0 0, Sudduth 0 0-0 0, Polite 2 1-2 6, Larson 5 4-5 19, Hutchins 0 1-3 1, Martensen 3 2-4 8, Bockholt 3 4-6 10, Clark 0 0-0 0, Wood 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 18-29 73.

NIACC (71): Boyd-Lockett 2 0-0 5, Lentz 0 3-3 3, Ketels 0 0-0 0, Anderson 2 3-6 9, Adamich 2 0-0 4, Ford-Washington 9 14-14 33, Onaca 2 2-4 6, Eckert 3 4-4 11, Sanders 0 0-2 0. Totals 20 26-33 71.

Halftime - Kirkwood 43, NIACC 43. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 9 (Larson 5, Silva 3, Polite 1), NIACC 5 (Anderson 2, Boyd-Lockett 1, Ford-Washington 1, Eckert 1).