Kirkwood women top Northeast in OT
Kim Muhl has 14 players on his active roster at Kirkwood Community College with all shapes, sizes and ability.
He needed them all Friday night.
The Eagles collected their best victory of the season by topping Northeast Community College, 82-72, in overtime in the first round of the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.
Northeast arrived with a perfect 10-0 record, but the Eagles got contributions from all 14 players and raised their mark to 6-2.
Whitney Henderson saved Kirkwood when she scored with 1.9 seconds left in the second half, tying the score 68-68.
Whitney Rohrbach scored seven points in overtime for the Eagles as they won the five-minute extra session, 14-4.
"It took all of us," said Rohrbach, a 5-foot-11 sophomore from Metamora, Ill. "It took from the starters to the bench players. It was just all-around a great team win."
Rohrbach and Kiana Jacobs, a pair of starters, led Kirkwood with 15 points apiece. But the Eagles also got 31 points from their subs, including 11 points and eight rebounds from 6-foot-2 freshman Sierra Chambers.
Chambers enjoyed a fine prep career at Iowa City High and originally thought she might jump right into the starting lineup at Kirkwood. "That's how I felt, but at the same time I didn't feel like I should be starting because I had to work my way up," she said.
Muhl said Chambers had a good week of practice, which translated into a good performance in the game.
"That's what we've been trying to strive with this group," he said. "If you have a good week of practice, you move up. If you don't, you stay down. That's the whole key with this group.
"We're trying to find a combo that will give us some juice."
Northeast jumped to an early 19-11 lead with its quick guards and big post players dominating the first eight minutes, but Kirkwood's subs sparked a 17-2 spurt that gave the Eagles a 28-21 advantage and pointed them in the right direction.
It was a tight battle in the second half, with both teams playing well at times. Andrea Johnson gave Northeast a 68-66 edge with a free throw with 19.5 seconds left, but she failed to convert both foul shots.
Bianca Dufelmeier missed a baseline drive for Kirkwood in the final seconds, but Henderson was there for the putback and the 68-68 tie.
Alexis Fitzpatrick gave Kirkwood a 73-70 lead with a 3-pointer. Rohrbach nailed a 3-pointer for a 77-72 lead with 1:19 left, then she hit four straight free throws in the final minute to help put the game in the win column.
Rohrbach went 8-for-8 at the foul line and 3-for-4 from the field. She also grabbed seven rebounds and had two assists.
"I kept telling Whitney Rohrbach: You've got to shoot the ball," Muhl said.
Rohrbach listened when it counted the most. She said she's not reluctant to shoot, but acknowledged she's not aggressive enough at times. "Sometimes I lose sight of it and I try to make an extra pass when I should just shoot," she said.
Raveen Murphy led Northeast with 19 points.
Kirkwood enjoyed a big advantage in rebounding, 51-34, with Chambers leading the way with eight.
The Eagles face Moberly (Mo.) on Saturday at 3 p.m. in their second game in the Kirkwood Classic. Moberly (11-0) defeated DMACC, 67-55, Friday night in the opener.
NORTHEAST (72): Johnson 4 1-2 10, DeLong 2 0-0 4, Murphy 4 11-13 19, Spencer 4 0-0 8, Vuletic 0 5-8 5, Gamble 3 2-3 8, Knowles 0 0-0 0, Murphy 3 2-2 10, Klostergaard 2 3-4 8. Totals 22 24-32 72.
KIRKWOOD (82): Jacobs 5 4-7 15, Chuol 0 0-0 0, Dufelmeier 4 2-2 12, Rohrbach 3 8-8 15, Fitzpatrick 3 2-2 9, Williams 0 0-0 0, Fallon 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 1 0-0 2, Gray 1 0-3 2, Faber 3 2-4 8, Henderson 2 0-0 4, Tow 1 0-0 2, Chambers 3 5-7 11. Totals 27 23-22 82.
Halftime - Kirkwood 32, Northeast 28. Regulation - Kirkwood 68, Northeast 68. 3-point goals - Northeast 4 (Murphy 2, Johnson 1, Klostergaard 1), Kirkwood 5 (Dufelmeier 2, Jacobs 1, Rohrbach 1, Fitzpatrick 1).
