Kirkwood women advance to Region XI title game

No. 3 Kirkwood used a late 9-2 run to top North Iowa Area, 58-49, in a Region XI women’s basketball semifinal Saturday at Johnson Hall in Cedar Rapids.

Kirkwood (28-2) plays Iowa Western (26-4) at 1 p.m. Sunday for a chance to return to the national tournament and defend its title.

Jada Devine led the Eagles with 22 points and seven rebounds. Tasia Jordan added eight points and Alyica Patterson and Kaylee Corbin each chipped in seven points.

NIACC (19-12) pulled within two, 49-47, on a Kourtney Manning layup with 56 seconds left, but the Eagles closed on a 9-2 run, including a 3-point play by Devine.

Men fall to Iowa Lakes in OT

No. 6 Iowa Lakes beat No. 9 Kirkwood, 96-87, in overtime Saturday in the Region XI Championship in Laker Gymnasium in Estherville.

The two teams split the regular-season series, each winning at home.

Iowa Lakes (24-8) advances to the NJCAA Division II national tournament March 21-25 in Danville, Ill. Kirkwood wraps the season 25-7.

The Eagles’ Noah King, Cassius Brooks and Ayouba Berthe were named to the Region XI all-tournament team.