Coe College Sports Releases
Contact: Ryan Workman, Sports Information Director
E-mail: sid@coe.edu

Kohawks pound Beavers in overtime, advance to first IIAC Semifinals

Anciaux

Karkosh

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Coe used a 17-2 advantage over Buena Vista in overtime Tuesday night to win its first Iowa Conference Tournament game in school history. The overtime game was just the third in conference tournament history, with the Beavers having played in all three games. Trailing by five at halftime, the Kohawks rallied for an 88-73 win. The Beavers were 0-11 from the field in the extra frame, while the Kohawks connected on four of six shooting, while hitting eight of nine from the free throw line.

With Coe leading by two with 14:01 to play in the first half, Buena Vista errupted on a 14-2 run over the next 6:14 to take a 10 point lead with 7:24 to play, its largest of the game. The Kohawks quickly answered back with an 8-0 run of their own, with all points coming from senior Amber Karkosh (Toledo, Iowa/South Tama) and sophomore Brittany Norris (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Jefferson). The two teams would exchange baskets to close out the half with the Beavers on top 36-31.

The Kohawks opened the first 3:50 of the second half on a 12-4 run to take a 43-40 lead with 15:55 to play. Buena Vista, the lowest seeded team in the tournament, wouldn't go away as they countered Coe's lead with a 19-9 run that gave them a seven point lead with 8:07 to play.

Trailing by seven, freshman Sarah Anciaux (Iowa City, Iowa/City) put the Kohawks on her back. After only scoring four points in the first half, the freshman answered with 21 points in the second half and two in overtime. Of Coe's final 36 points in the last 12:50, including overtime, she tallied 15 of them herself.

Katie Ebel hit two free throws with 4:03 to play in overtime, before the Kohawks exploded for 17 straight points and a convincing win by looking at the scoreboard.

Both teams shot 81.3 percent from the free throw line, but the number of made baskets was the difference. The Beavers were 13 of 16 from the line, while the Kohawks were 26 of 32 from the charity stripe.

Anciaux finished with a game-high 27 points, while pulling down five rebounds and dishing out four assists. Karkosh finished her Eby Fieldhouse career in style with her sixth double-double of the season. She had 18 points and 10 rebounds to go along with a game-high six assists.

Senior Shanon Nelson (Clinton, Iowa/Clinton) added 13 points, six rebounds and a game-high three blocked shots, while fellow senior starter Lisa Thornburg (Donnellson, Iowa/Central Lee) had a career-high 10 rebounds in her last Eby Fieldhouse performance.

The Kohawks advance to the Iowa Conference Tournament Semifinals for the first time in school history. They will travel to Decorah Thursday night to face Luther. The two teams split the regular season matchups, with each team winning on the others home court. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.