• Sophomore Chloe Costello leads DMACC with 18 points
• NECC gets the win behind six points in the final 14 seconds
• DMACC shoots just 28 percent from the field

Poor shooting cost the DMACC women's basketball team in a 63-59 loss to Northeast (Neb.) Community College February 18 at Norfolk, Neb.

The Bears shot just 28 percent from the field, hitting 22 field goals in 78 attempts, as the Hawks swept their season series between the two teams.

DMACC, led by 18 points from sophomore Chloe Costello of Northwood, started well enough, taking a 15-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Bears were outscored 18-13 in the second period, resulting in a 28-28 tie at halftime. DMACC had a 44-43 lead at the end of the third quarter.

The loss ended the Bears' eight-game winning streak and dropped them to 21-7 overall and 13-7 in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC).

NECC, led by Aaliyah Jones' game-high 30 points, got the win by scoring six points in the final 14 seconds.

DMACC led 59-57 when the Hawks' Jana Lopez drilled a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining, giving them a 60-59 lead. DMACC freshman Mariam Omran of Giza, Egypt, missed a layup with four seconds left and Lopez grabbed the rebound and was fouled by Omran with two seconds left. She made one of her two attempts from the free throw line and DMACC turned the ball over on its final possession, setting up a pair of free throws by Jones for the four-point margin at the end.

In shooting 28 percent from the field, the Bears connected on six of 25 attempts from beyond the arc and they were 9-of-14 from the free throw line.

NECC, which improved to 16-9 and 11-8, matched DMACC from the field with 24 field goals in 64 attempts for 28 percent. The Hawks made three of 17 three-point attempts and were 12-of-17 from the free throw line.

DMACC had a 49-46 advantage on the boards with sophomore Reagan Wheeler of Cedar Falls grabbing 10 rebounds to lead the Bears. Freshmen Jordan Valley of Waverly and Abriya Watkins of Omaha, Neb., had six rebounds apiece. Valley, sophomore Breeley Clayburg of Coon Rapids and freshman Brooklyn Valley of Waverly dished out two assists apiece and Jordan Valley led the Bears in steals with two.

The DMACC women's basketball team will make its final road trip of the regular season Feb. 21 when the Bears face Kirkwood Community College (KCC) at Cedar Rapids. The Eagles, ranked seventh in the Division II poll from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), lead the ICCAC at 18-2 and are 24-3 overall. They defeated DMACC 59-53 when the two team played Jan. 3 inside the DMACC gymnasium.