Southeast Community College’s upset bid in the first round of the National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Basketball Tournament fell short Tuesday morning in a 60-53 loss to Kirkwood Community College of Iowa.
Southeast, now 21-6, will play at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the consolation bracket against either Kishwaukee or St. Clair County.
The 14th-seeded Storm trailed 20-18 at halftime but came out of the break with new-found energy. SCC enjoyed its largest lead of the second half, 36-30, on a long 3-pointer by Monique Stevens with 10:48 to go. But Kirkwood battled back, taking advantage of SCC turnovers and hitting key free throws down the stretch.
SCC led the third-seeded Eagles 40-35 on a basket and free throw by Kindrea Poole with 8:46 to play. But Kirkwood tied the game at 40-40 with 7:28 left. Stevens’ basket at the 4:06 mark tied the game at 48-48, but that was as close as the Storm could get as the Eagles went on a 12-5 run to close out the game.
SCC shot just 23 percent from the field in the first half and committed 10 turnovers yet trailed by just two at the break.
Kirkwood took a 59-50 lead before SCC’s Mesha Phillips banked in a 3-pointer with 7.3 seconds to make it 59-53.
Kirkwood made 8 of 12 free throws in the last 3:30 of the game.
Stevens led SCC with 16 points. Kianna Jacobs paced Kirkwood, now 31-2 on the season, with 15 points.