Kirkwood Womens Basketball

Tull leads Eagles by Triton

The Kirkwood women's basketball team smothered Triton in the middle quarters Saturday and posted a 76-58 victory in the second round of the Kirkwood Classic at Johnson Hall.

Triton took a 25-17 lead after the first quarter, but the Eagles outscored the visitors 49-14 in the next two periods for an insurmountable 66-39 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes.

Ashley Tull led the second-ranked Eagles with 19 points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists. Mackenzie Jenkins finished with 14 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Haley Mullinnix contributed 11 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Read more...

Kirkwood women iron out some bugs

The Kirkwood Eagles have been a mystery during the early part of the women's basketball season.

Normally a high-powered outfit, they scored only 30 points in their first game of the year. Three games later, they lost by 45 points and saw their record fall to 1-and-3.

It's hardly what you expect from Kirkwood, which won the national title in 2017 and finished second last year, but there were signs of hope Friday night at Johnson Hall.

The Eagles blitzed McCook Community College of Nebraska, 97-55, in their home opener in the first round of the Kirkwood Classic.

"It's a step," said KCC Coach Kim Muhl. "It's not a plunge, but it's a step."

Muhl was not happy with his club's energy, effort and execution during the 1-and-3 start, but he saw signs of life against McCook.

"The bottom line is how hard they want to play," he said. "You either get it done or you won't play here very long.

Read more...

Illinois Central drills No. 2 Eagles

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The Kirkwood women's basketball team has gotten off to a rough start this season.

The Eagles were drilled by seventh-ranked Illinois Central, 94-49, in the second round of the Illinois Central Classic Saturday afternoon.

Kirkwood were ranked No. 2 in the country in the NJCAA Division II preseason poll after finishing second in the national tournament last year, but the Eagles have a 1-3 record with three lopsided losses.

Illinois Central outscored the Eagles, 52-18, in the second half after leading 42-31 at intermission.

Jheda Kennedy led Kirkwood with nine points. The Eagles shot 16 for 53 from the floor for 30.2 percent.

Read more...

No. 2 Eagles capture first win of season

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The second-ranked Kirkwood women's basketball team broke into the victory column Friday with a lopsided 62-21 triumph over Danville Community College at the Illinois Central Classic.

Mackenzie Jenkins led the Eagles (1-2) with 14 points. Ashley Tull added 13 for Kirkwood.

The Eagles began the season with two losses against NJCAA Division I opponents at the State Fair Classic in Missouri last weekend.

Read more...