CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Looking to snap a three-game skid, the Coe College women's basketball team used a 19-1 run in the second half to beat Mount Mercy 52-40 Saturday.
The first half was a back-and-forth affair between the two schools. Neither team led by more than three, while they were tied six different times. Both teams shot under 30 percent and were a combined 1-for-17 from 3-point range. Seven of Coe's first half points came on second chances, as they grabbed 12 first half offensive rebounds.
A 3-pointer by senior Kelsey Jipp (Bettendorf, Iowa/Pleasant Valley) and a pair of free throws from senior Kayla Waskow(Dunkerton, Iowa/Dunkerton) gave Coe a 29-26 lead with 16:55 to play. The Mustangs got a pair of baskets at the 16:38 and 16:00 marks, but the Kohawks took over after that. With 15:36 to play, Waskow hit her first 3-pointer of the year, and only 20th of her career, to spark a 19-1 Kohawk run in the next 9:01. Following the fun, in which Waskow scored 10 points, the Kohawks held a 48-31 lead with 6:28 to play.
With 4:58 to play, Callan Timms hit a jumper, as the Mustangs went on a 9-2 run to cut the lead to 10. A pair of free throws with :25 to play by sophomore Megan Hayes (Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf) gave Coe the 52-40 victory.
Waskow finished with a game-high 12 points and seven rebounds. Junior Lindsey Buckles (Davenport, Iowa/West) and Hayes added nine points apiece. Buckles had a career-high 10 rebounds, while Waskow, Hayes and juniorMackenzie Reed (Iowa City, Iowa/West) all had seven boards apiece. Jipp had a team-high three assists, while juniorHannah Breitbach (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Xavier) had four steals. Hayes blocked two shots.
With a block in the game, Waskow moved to eighth in Coe's career blocked shots list with 58. She also moved to fifth with 375 defensive rebounds and became the seventh player in school history to play over 2,500 minutes.
The Kohawks held a 14-2 advantage in second chance points. Coe also held a 55-44 advantage in rebounds, the fourth most rebounds in school history.
Coe returns to action on Thursday, as they travel to Mankato, Minn. to face Bethany Lutheran. The Vikings are currently 1-3 and in the middle of a five-game stretch against Iowa Conference schools. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. A link for live video and live stats can be found at CoeAthletics.com.