RICHARDS AND LAWSON HAVE BIG NIGHTS AS NORTHEAST DROPS TIGHT BATTLE TO NO. 7 IOWA WESTERN

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team traveled Wednesday night to Council Bluffs, Iowa for a matchup with No. 7 Iowa Western Community College. The Reivers got the best of the Hawks in the tightly-contested clash by a final score of 65-61.

Northeast (4-6, 1-1 ICCAC) was led in scoring by Allison Richards (Pine Ridge, S.D.) on the evening as the sophomore had 20 points and is averaging 23 points per game this season. Amber Lawson (Wynot, Neb.) had nine points in the fourth quarter alone as the Hawks were able to trim a 42-30 halftime deficit to just four points with six minutes remaining in the contest. Lawson had two clutch steals in the final minute and a free throw to cut the Reivers lead to 64-61, but that was the closest the Hawks would get to the top-10 ranked Iowa Western squad in the duel as they will return home with a 1-1 conference record.

STAT SHEET:

Allison Richards (Pine Ridge, S.D.): 20 PTS, 5 REB, STL

Amber Lawson (Wynot, Neb.): 18 PTS, 2 REB, 2 STL

Rylyn Cast (York, Neb.): 8 PTS, REB

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Women's Basketball Coach Matt Svehla on playing No. 7 Iowa Western to the wire tonight:

"Our girls battled to stay in it and had a chance at the end," Svehla said. "We had the ball down three points with 20 seconds left, but we had a turnover. Tough break, but we were there."

Svehla on what his squad can focus on before heading home this weekend:

"We had some defensive breakdowns and we need to rebound better," Svehla said. "We have plenty to work on moving forward."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will welcome Marshalltown Community College to their home floor for a showdown at 1 p.m. Saturday against Marshalltown Community College at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

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