Kirkwood Community College - Cedar Rapids, Iowa

No. 1 KCC women crush No. 9 Illinois Central

Paige Bradford and Kortney Drake collected double-doubles Saturday as the top-ranked Kirkwood women's basketball team belted No. 9 Illinois Central, 74-45, in the second round of the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.

Bradford finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the tournament. Drake pitched in with 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Eagles raised their record to 6-0 by winning their third tournament of the campaign.

Amara Lipsey hit three 3-pointers and notched 11 points for Kirkwood. Jheda Kennedy contributed six assists. Bradford blocked three shots.

Kirkwood outscored Illinois Central, 23-7, in the second quarter to take a commanding 40-20 lead at halftime.

Summer Stoewer scored nine points for Illinois Central (3-4).

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Healthy Rath sparks No.1 Eagles

Addison Rath was a little tired, but very happy.

She had just played five straight minutes at full speed for the Kirkwood Eagles Friday night before taking a well-deserved breather, having scored eight quick points to help spark the top-ranked Eagles after they got off to a slow start.

Kirkwood proceeded to whip McHenry County, 69-39, in the opening round of the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.

Rath had major knee surgery last December after playing only two games for Kirkwood and faced a grueling road to recovery.

"It's probably the most physically and mentally challenging thing I've ever had to go through," she remarked.

The Eagles were clinging to 15-12 lead when Rath went to work. She scored three straight baskets in three minutes to make it 21-12, then made a layup two minutes later before taking a rest, having gone 4-for-4 in a little more than five minutes.

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Thedford leads No. 9 Eagles by Marshalltown

MARSHALLTOWN - Devonte Thedford enjoyed a big game Wednesday night as  the ninth-ranked Kirkwood Eagles topped Marshalltown, 79-71, in a  non-conference game in Marshalltown.

Thedford finished with 19 points, six rebounds as six assists as the  Eagles raised their record to 4-2.

DJ Purnell continued his string of productive games for Kirkwood with  17 points and seven rebounds, hitting 7 of 11 shots from the field.  Luke Appel, who prepped at Marshalltown High School, returned home  with 15 points and seven rebounds. Seybian Sims had nine points and  eight rebounds.

Jaqwell Wilson poured in 25 points for Marshalltown (1-5).

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KCC volleyball draws No. 9 seed for nationals

The Kirkwood women's volleyball team will face Illinois Central in the  opening round of the NJCAA Division II national tournament on  Thursday, Nov. 21 at 12 p.m. at the Charleston Civic Center in  Charleston, W.Va.

Kirkwood (26-14) is the No. 9 seed in the 16-team tournament and  Illinois Central (33-10) is the No. 8 seed.

Illinois Central trimmed the Eagles, 3-2, in their only meeting this  season Sept. 20 at Illinois Central.

If Kirkwood defeats Illinois Central, the Eagles would face Parkland  or Mercyhurst North East in the quarterfinals next Thursday at 6:30  p.m. If Kirkwood loses to Illinois Central, the Eagles would meet the  Parkland-Mercyhurst loser on Friday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m.

Kirkwood finished fourth at the national tournament last year.

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KCC volleyball team headed to nationals

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Kirkwood women's volleyball team is headed  back to the NJCAA Division II national tournament in West Virginia.

The 14th-ranked Eagles swept Metropolitan Community College, 25-17,  25-20, 25-23, in the district finals Saturday to continue their  postseason surge.

Kirkwood (26-14) advances to the national tournament at the Charleston  Civic Center in Charlestown, W.Va., Nov, 21-23. The Eagles finished  fourth at nationals last year and will be making their sixth trip to  the national tournament in 15 years under Coach Jill Williams.

Anna Gorsich sparked Kirkwood with 13 kills against Metropolitan  (13-24). Peyton Brokovich and Abbie Ericson had nine kills. Aubrin  Dittmer and Taylor Carey contributed five kills in the sweep.

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No. 2 Eagles thump No. 1 Kansas City

The showdown between Kirkwood and Kansas City Community College for  bragging rights in NJCAA women's basketball Saturday wasn't much of a  showdown at all.

It was a beat-down.

The second-ranked Kirkwood Eagles scored the first 19 points of the  game and dumped top-ranked Kansas City, 70-50, in the second round of  the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.

The Eagles (4-0) blanked Kansas City for the first 5 1/2 minutes of  the game while grabbing their 19-0 advantage.

Kirkwood built a 24-point lead at 38-14 midway through the second  quarter. Kansas City rallied and pulled within 10 points at halftime,  44-34, but the Eagles outscored Kansas City 26-16 in the second half  for the comfortable 20-point victory.

Amara Lipsey and Marissa Metz scored 11 points apiece in a balanced  attack for Kirkwood. Paige Bradford, Ju Gaston and Natalie Tomaszewski  contributed 10 points apiece as five Eagles reached double figures.

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Kirkwood men crushed by Cowley

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. - The Kirkwood men's basketball team tried to tackle  a strong team from the NJCAA Division I ranks Saturday and paid a  stiff price.

Cowley Community College spanked the Eagles, 109-72, in the second  round of the Community State Bank Classic in Coffeyville, Kan.

Kirkwood is ranked No. 1 in the JuCo Division II ranks, but Cowley  raced to a 61-33 lead at halftime and cruised to the 37-point victory.

Martaveon Jones led five Cowley players in double figures with 18 points.

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Appel shines as No. 1 Eagles top Coffeyville

COFFEYVILLE, Kan. - Luke Appel collected a double-double with 20  points and 11 rebounds Friday night as the Kirkwood Eagles defeated  Coffeyville, 74-54, with a big second half at the Community State Bank  Classic at Coffeyville.

Kirkwood is ranked No. 1 in NJCAA Division II men's basketball.  Coffeyville is ranked No. 17 in the Division I ranks. The outcome left  both teams at 3-1 for the young season.

DJ Purnell posted his third straight double-double for the Eagles with  12 points and 12 rebounds. Devonte Thedford finished with 15 points,  six rebounds and four assists. Seybian Sims pitched in 12 points for  Kirkwood.

Meikkel Murray and Kymani Dunham scored 11 points apiece for Coffeyville.

Kirkwood trailed 31-26 at halftime, but the Eagles smoked Coffeyville  48-23 in the second half for the 20-point victory.

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No. 2 KCC women facing No. 1 team

Everybody played for the Kirkwood women's basketball team Friday night  and everybody scored as the No. 2 Eagles drubbed John Wood Community  College, 77-40, in the opening round of the Kirkwood Classic at  Johnson Hall.

Kirkwood will face top-ranked Kansas City (Kan.) in the second round  Saturday at 3 p.m. in a showdown for bragging rights in NJCAA Division  II.

Paige Bradford and Delani Harris scored 12 points apiece for Kirkwood  Friday. Marissa Metz tossed in 10 markers for the winners. Tatiana  Hodges-Johnson grabbed eight rebounds.

Coach Kim Muhl used all 12 players on his active roster and all 12  found their way into the scoring column. Sophomore Ashley Tull is  still recovering from knee surgery last February and is scheduled to  begin practice in December.

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