The 2021 basketball season was full of questions. With COVID still looming over everyone the season was a big question mark at the start. Through all the concerns and questions though, the women’s basketball team at DMACC made the most of it.
The women’s team started off the season with a streak of wins. A few losses at the end of the season had them finishing with a record of 14-6. The tournament was hopeful for the team as they cruised by the semifinals, but ended up dropping a hard fought championship. Heading into nationals they were ranked number 17 in the NJCAA national rankings, but sadly the loss in the conference championship game knocked them out of the national tournament.
The women’s team was not short on honors with four players earning postseason honors.
Freshman Grace Flanagan from Coggon, Iowa, earned first team all-conference as well as newcomer of the year. Flanagan had the best scoring mark on the teams with 16 points a game. She also had the most assists on the team averaging 3.3 a game. Flanagan was second in the entire ICCAC in steals and free throw percentage, and was fourth in scoring and three point percentage.
Sophomore Jada Powell from Des Moines, Iowa, earned the rank of first team all-conference. Powell led the Bears in rebounding all year averaging 9.9 boards a year. She threw in 8.4 points a game as well, and had 22 blocks this year, she was a presence under the rim for the Bears all year.
Freshman Magan Christopherson reeled in a second team all-conference award. Christopherson had a scoring mark of 14.5 points a game shooting 37 percent from the field, showing she knew how to score, even if she was a freshman.
Freshman Emily Caspers also received a postseason award claiming an honorable mention. Caspers finished second in rebounding only behind Powell averaging 7.2 rebounds a game. Not only could she rebound though as she also shot an amazing 53 percent from the field.
The women’s team ended 15-7 and one win away from a national championship tournament showing.