JOPLIN, MO. – The Parkland College women's basketball team stumbled and suffered an 88-74 loss to Iowa Western Community College in the second round of the NJCAA DII National Tournament on Monday, March 18th. The No. 12 seed Cobras (26-6) held a one-point halftime lead over the No. 5 seed Reivers (32-2), but a slow second half caught up to them – and Iowa Western pulled away in the fourth quarter to send Parkland to the consolation bracket. Freshman Siarah Brown led the team in scoring with a career-high 27 points, going 5-9 from three in her first postseason game.
 
Up next, Parkland returns to action in the NCJAA DII National Tournament Consolation Bracket on Wednesday, March 20th, versus the loser of No. 4 seed CCBC Essex and No. 13 seed Pima Community College. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Leggett & Platt Athletic Center.
 
The Cobras started strong with three straight baskets to open an 8-3 lead early in the game, but an 8-0 run from the Reivers put them 11-8 in front midway through the first quarter. Freshman Megan Janson hit a three with 3:13 to go in the quarter to retake the lead, and sophomore Alyssa Cole buried a triple to push the lead to 19-14 with 2:23 on the clock. Parkland led 21-18 at the start of the second quarter after shooting 5-6 from three in the first quarter, but Iowa Western CC worked the ball inside to regain the lead, and the Reivers led by as much as 38-33 with 2:43 until halftime. The Cobras got to the free throw line before the break, closing the half on a 7-1 run, and Parkland went into halftime with a 40-39 lead. The two teams traded the lead back and forth to begin the second half before a quick 7-0 Cobra run capped by a Siarah Brown three gave them a 49-43 lead with 5:09 left in the third quarter, forcing an IWCC timeout. The Reivers responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take a 55-49 lead with 2:48 to go in the third, and the Cobras trailed 62-55 heading into the fourth quarter. Both teams buried back-to-back threes to open the quarter, but the momentum remained with IWCC as the Reivers took a 74-61 lead with 5:20 to go, the largest of the game until that point. The Cobras went cold from the field down the stretch as IWCC pulled away, and Parkland fell 88-74 in the second round of the NJCAA National Tournament.
 
Statistical Overview:
Siarah Brown: 27 points (5-9 3PT), 4 rebounds
Alyssa Cole: 17 points (7-8 FT), 4 rebounds
Abby Shepard: 11 points, 3 rebounds
Megan Janson: 10 points, 5 assists