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DMACC Upsets Top Seeded Kirkwood for First Ever Region Championship

A group photo of the DMACC women’s basketball team and staff posing on a gym court with a large NJCAA Region 11 championship plaque; a bold banner across the top reads “CHAMPIONS” with bear-head logos, and the bottom caption reads “ICCAC Region 11-A Champions | Division II Women’s Basketball,” with an NJCAA Basketball logo at the lower right.
DMACC is crowned ICCAC Region 11-A Champions in Division II Women’s Basketball.
March 3, 2026

No. 8 Ellsworth took on Region 11 No. 1 seed Kirkwood in the semifinals to open the tournament, and it was a gritty, defensive battle. Kirkwood came out on top after the first quarter, scoring 13 points and forcing eight turnovers. Ellsworth did not make a single field goal and hit only five free throws. In the second quarter, Ellsworth settled in and outscored Kirkwood 10-8 to cut the halftime deficit to just six points. Kirkwood came out of the gates buzzing in the second half, with Kennedy Blakely leading the charge with seven points while missing just one field goal. Kirkwood held that lead all the way to the finish line to come out on top 48-38. Olivia Wren and Blakely led the Eagles with 14 points each, while Ellsworth was paced by Yaiza Soriano Balaguer. Kirkwood moved on to the Region 11-A Championship game.

In the other semifinal, No. 5 DMACC and No. 4 Iowa Central faced off with a trip to the championship game on the line, and DMACC came ready to play. The Bears bludgeoned Iowa Central in the first quarter, jumping out to a 28-9 lead behind five or more points from four different players. They also outrebounded Iowa Central 15-7 in the opening frame. Iowa Central settled down in the second quarter, but the first-quarter deficit proved too much to overcome. DMACC continued to hold Iowa Central at arm's length. The third quarter was even, with DMACC scoring 24 and Iowa Central scoring 21. Iowa Central needed a 24-point comeback in the fourth quarter, but that did not happen as DMACC held the Tritons to just 17 points and punched its ticket to the championship game.

In the championship game, DMACC and Kirkwood delivered a back-and-forth affair that saw DMACC come out on top and move on. The score was tied at 10 after the first quarter before Kirkwood took an eight-point lead into halftime. The Eagles shot 62.5% from the field in the second quarter and put themselves in a strong position entering the second half. DMACC had other plans, outscoring Kirkwood by 10 in the third quarter to take a two-point lead after a 21-point period. Brooklyn Valley hit two timely 3-pointers to give DMACC a chance to win. The Bears held their lead throughout the fourth quarter and secured the 55-51 victory. Whitney Jensen and Breeley Clayburg led DMACC with 12 points each, while Olivia Wren and Erianna Moeschter scored 10 points apiece for Kirkwood. DMACC now moves on to face United Tribes Tech in the North Central B District Championship.

 

Semifinals - Saturday, February 28, 2026

#1 Kirkwood def. #8 Ellsworth, 48-38 - Box Score - Archived Video
#5 DMACC def. #4 Iowa Central, 95-63 - Box Score - Archived Video

Championship - Monday, March 2, 2026

#5 DMACC def. #1 Kirkwood, 55-51 - Box Score - Archived Video


DMACC advances to North Central District Championship vs. Region 13.