Total team effort lifts Hawks over Spartans

CRESTON, Iowa – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team pulled off a magnificent all-around team win Thursday night against Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa.

The Hawks (7-11, 4-4 ICCAC) were victorious, 70-63 over the Spartans in the ICCAC matchup.

Every single player who took the three-and-a-half-hour bus ride Thursday played a pivotal role in what was without a doubt complete effort. Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.) led the way with her second straight double-double. Hassett totaled 29 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Autumn Dickmander (Brule, Neb.) put the ball through the hoop with ease tallying 26 points and three rebounds. Molly Davis (Yutan, Neb.) added an additional seven points and four rebounds. Lorna Maxon (Laurel, Neb.) joined Davis and Dickmander in playing all 40 minutes of the game.

There were two distinct instances over the course of the 40-minute game where the Hawks looked to be facing a deficit that was impossible to overcome. First, with 2:06 to play in the first quarter the Spartans pulled ahead 28-11. The Hawks spent the rest of the half and most of the third quarter clawing away at the hole on the scoreboard before two free throws from Hassett tied the game at 38 with 4:27 to play in the third quarter.

The back-and-forth nature of the ballgame continued as the teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 45 points. The Spartans caught fire and with 5:14 left in the game they took a commanding 12-point lead. Hawks head coach Matt Svehla was prompted to call a timeout, and something absolutely incredible happened when the Hawks returned to the floor.

Over the final 5:14 of the contest the Hawks held Southwestern to just a single point, while a flurry of baskets by Dickmander, Hassett, Davis and Jaydy Gonzalez (Denver, Colo.) gave the Hawks a 70-63 victory. The Hawks finished the game on an almost inconceivable 20-1 scoring run in one of the finest finishes to a road game you'll ever see at any level of basketball.

The Hawks outrebounded the Spartans 37-33 and shot 85.7-percent from the free-throw line. The Hawks also committed eight-less turnovers than the Spartans and used that edge to score 23 points off turnovers.

The Hawks will finish their road trip at 1 p.m. Saturday against North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa.

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