Kirkwood women’s basketball soaring again

CEDAR RAPIDS — You don't win seven national titles and hold the No. 1 ranking in the country with a 26-1 overall record unless you continually recruit hard-working student-athletes.

Part of Kirkwood's success this season, which includes a 13-game winning streak, is thanks in part to three players staying for an additional year after the Eagles finished fifth at the national tournament in 2021.

“I was going to leave but with the transfer portal being what it was and how late we finished our season ...,” said former North Linn standout Ashley Tull. “Everyone wanted to transfer once they realized they could still play and get more education.”

Tull and her mother looked at schools in Florida and Missouri. But Tull learned something about herself along their journey.

“I realized I hated Florida,” Tull said. “It's sticky and I don't like it.”

A phone call from head coach Kim Muhl and teammate Karsyn Stratton, suggesting Tull return for a fourth year — she used a medical redshirt early in her career — ended the search for the future human resource manager.

“I just want to win the national championship,” Tull said. “That's why we came back and I think we're due.”

Kortney Drake, a third-year sophomore who turned 21 earlier this month, talked to Muhl and also thought staying was the smartest decision.

“I wasn't really looking anywhere else and I knew I wanted to keep playing basketball,” Drake said.

Now, after improving her shooting and confidence, Drake is committed to continue her career at Northern Illinois while finishing her degree in elementary education.

“The girls really made my visit enjoyable,” Drake said. “I got a gut feeling that that was where I'm supposed to be.”

Before the future second-grade teacher commands respect in a classroom, Drake wants to hang a banner in Johnson Hall.

“We've earned it,” Drake said. “I'd be a little shocked but it'd be so cool.”

The facilitator for the Eagles offense, third-year point guard Tatiana Hodges-Johnson, has fallen in love with the big stage while representing Kirkwood.

“Coming from Des Moines East, that was a dream come true because I've never been on that platform,” Hodges-Johnson said. “Now that we've been there and know we can get there, I want to win the whole thing.”

While the future is uncertain, Hodges-Johnson has a visit scheduled with Northern Illinois and has been speaking with several schools in the south.

“I'm willing to go close or far, it doesn't matter for me,” Hodges-Johnson said. “Anywhere that feels like home for me, I'm ready to go.”

First the trio of elder Eagles travel to Estherville to take on Iowa Lakes Saturday at 1 p.m. with the men's teams to follow at 3 p.m.

Making history

With the Kirkwood women's 115-37 victory over Ellsworth on Thursday at Johnson Hall, Muhl became the second junior college coach — and just the eighth across all levels of college basketball — to hit the 400-win mark in home games.

Muhl's home record over 33 seasons is 400-33. He is 974-167 in all games.

The Eagles also set a school record for 3-pointers in a game with 20. The previous mark was 17.

Comments: justin.webster@thegazette.com