HAWKS SECURE IMPORTANT CONFERENCE HOME VICTORY OVER DMACC

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team entered Wednesday night just one game ahead of Des Moines Area Community College in the ICCAC standings, but were able to finish the evening with a two-game advantage after a crucial 78-54 win at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk.

The Hawks (10-17, 7-10 ICCAC) and Bears were neck-and-neck through the first half as the Bears finished the first quarter with a 15-14 lead. The Hawks took a slim 30-27 advantage into the second half before pouring it on in the third quarter.

By the end of the third quarter the Hawks had strengthened their lead to 55-43, and then they scored 23 more points in the final quarter compared to the 11 from the Bears.

Six different players made a 3-pointer in the showdown for the Hawks, and as a team they shot 42.9 percent from the three-point line.

STAT SHEET

•          Ashley Hassett (Hershey, Neb.): 32 PTS, 8 REB, 4 STL

•          Autumn Dickmander (Brule, Neb.): 16 PTS, 4 AST

•          Molly Davis (Yutan, Neb.): 12 PTS, 7 REB, 4 AST

•          Marta Pons (Sevilla, Spain): 8 PTS, 4 REB

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH

Head women's basketball coach Matt Svehla's overall thoughts on the contest:

"I liked that we had a good second half," Svehla said. "I did not like at all how we played in the first quarter, but we kind of survived some lapses and stayed in the ballgame. They played Monday night and we did not, but we've had some of those where we've had to play through them too, so that's the way it goes."

Svehla's positive takeaways from the matchup:

"In the first half I thought we were really chasing some shots," Svehla said. "Driving into traffic and not finding people. In the second half I thought we did a better job of recognizing our defenses, taking what they were giving us."

Svehla's early thoughts on facing Kirkwood Community College next:

"Our biggest thing is obviously we've got to get some rest," Svehla said. "Legs get weary. Really conscious about not being on our legs hardcore. Trying to understand what they're going to do and making sure we execute the best that we can. We'll be ready to play hopefully on the road against the number one team in the country."

UP NEXT

The Hawks will face another tough test next as they take on No. 1 ranked Kirkwood Community College. The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

HAWKS HAPPENINGS

For all the latest information on Northeast Hawks Athletics, please visit NortheastHawks.com. For updates and other exciting content, follow:

@northeastcchawks on Facebook

@northeasthawks on Instagram

@NortheastHawks on Twitter