COMMUNITY SPORTS: Kirkwood, Mount Mercy women rolling along

Editor's note: These program recaps and updates are part of a new focus on local college sports that will include a weekly webcast, beginning today. Want to join our community contributor team? Contact J.R. Ogden at jr.ogden@thegazette.com

By Chad Cooper, community contributor

The Kirkwood women's basketball teams has won 10 in a row and stands 12-2 heading into Wednesday's game at Southeastern.

The Eagles are undefeated at Johnson Hall and also are 2-0 in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play.

The Eagles opened their post-break schedule with wins over Kankakee Community College on Dec. 28, Parkland College on Dec. 29 and Southwestern Community College on Jan. 4.

Kirkwood is led by sophomore guard Teasha Harris and sophomore forward Kate Hartman at better than 10 points per game each. The Eagles have a lot of young talent with 10 freshmen and only three sophomores on the roster.

The Eagles also are on the road Saturday against NIACC and return home Jan 18 for a game against Des Moines Area Community College. DMACC defeated Kirkwood, 66-54, in their last meeting, knocking the Eagles out of the 2011 Region XI tournament.

Mustangs climbing

The Mustangs are off to a 13-4 start and ranked ninth in the latest NAIA poll.

Mount Mercy is 6-0 at the Hennessey Recreation Center, 5-0 in the Midwest Collegiate Conference.

The Mustangs have won eight in a row, including beating Coe on Dec. 30, Ashford University on Jan. 4 and at Waldorf College on Jan. 7.

Senior guard Emily Greiner leads Mount Mercy at more than 19 points per game. Greiner made the all-tournament team at both the Radisson Roseville Classic and the La Quinta Stritch Holiday Classic tournaments in November and December.

The Mustangs also been led by senior guard and former Cedar Rapids Washington standout Micha Mims, who is averaging better than 15 points per game.

Mount Mercy is on the road Wednesday at Saint Ambrose and Saturday at AIB before returning home to face Iowa Wesleyan on Jan. 18.