The Iowa Lakes women gave fourth-ranked Kirkwood a better battle than the Eagles were likely expecting. But the Lakers still came up a couple baskets short in a 58-54 loss to the Eagles on Saturday.
Kirkwood won the teams' first meeting 76-30 on Dec. 15.
On Saturday, the Eagles biggest lead in the second half was 11 points.
"I'm really proud of the effort," said Iowa Lakes coach Nicole Bullock. "We just need to finish a couple possessions and we're right there."
Kirkwood took a 27-23 lead at halftime. The Lakers kept the game close early in the second half as a 3-pointer by Ashleigh Dykes briefly gave the Lakers a 28-27 lead. A bit later, a trey by Sunday Duop kept the Lakers within one, at 38-7.
Kirkwood looked like they would pull away after Duop got her fourth foul and led 50-39 after a 3-pointer by Bianca Dufelmeier.
But the Lakers put together an 11-0 run started by Leah Courtney with Carla Barrera chipping in five points along with baskets from Dykes and Myangel Johnson. That tied the game at 50-50 with 5:30 remaining.
Kirkwood responded with the next two baskets.
But the Lakers still trailed 56-54 in the final minute, as they were unable o get a couple more shots to fall.
Meanwhile Dufelmeier scored the final two points at the free throw line with 30 seconds remaining to make it a two-possession game.
Kirkwood was 15-of-19 from the line while the Lakers were 13-of-20 from the line.
Iowa Lakes was 18-of-47 from the field including 5-of-14 from 3-point range while Kirkwood was 20-of-49 from the field including 3-of-14 from 3-point range.
Duop led the Lakers with 13 points while Courtney and Johnson each had 12, Dykes had seven, Daria Jones had two.
Iowa Lakes (7-14 overall, 3-5 in the conference) hosts Iowa Central (12-5, 3-2) on Wednesday.