Larson’s record-setting night from the 3-point line paces Kirkwood past DMACC

CEDAR RAPIDS — With a 'gun' as her practice aid, you could say Kirkwood's Kirsten Larson was locked and loaded last night at Johnson Hall.

Larson set a school record with nine 3-point baskets for 27 points to lead No. 4 Kirkwood past DMACC, 76-52, in an Iowa Community College Athletic Conference women's basketball game.

The victory was the 14th straight for Kirkwood (18-4, 6-0) and the 752nd in Coach Kim Muhl's 26-year career with the Eagles.

When she was a kid, Larson said she went to the YMCA and shot by herself until she made 100 shots.

At Kirkwood, Larson said she practices using an apparatus called a 'gun,' a net apparatus that allows her to shoot more efficiently by herself.

The gun rebounds the ball and passes it back to her.

'Sometimes I'll come before practice or in between classes,' said Larson, the only Kirkwood player averaging in double-figure scoring. 'I shoot a couple hundred shots a few days a week.'

Muhl said Larson ranks in the top three of the 3-point shooters he's coached during his long tenure at Kirkwood.

Larson made her first four 3-pointers last night as Kirkwood shot out to a 19-4 lead.

'There were a lot of wide-open looks, and my teammates hit me at the right time,' said Larson, whose previous high for 3-pointers in a game was six.

DMACC (14-8, 3-3) cut the Eagles' lead back to seven points by halftime, 38-31.

Larson connected twice more to start the second half, then she added her seventh of the game during a 15-2 run that staked the Eagles to a 61-41 advantage.

Kirkwood outscored DMACC 30-13 over the final 13:54 of the game.

Larson made her final 3-pointer with 13 seconds left to break the 3-point mark set by Diamon Beckford in December 2010.

Beckford went on to Kent State and now coaches high school in Upper Darby, Pa. One of her former players, sophomore Tyra Polite, had a career-high 12 assists last night for Kirkwood.

'She does a lot of things you can't teach,' Muhl said of Polite.

Kirkwood, the league leader in the ICCAC, plays league foe Iowa Central (14-7, 3-3) this Saturday at Fort Dodge.