12/11/14 • By Kyle Cummings / kcummings@columbustelegram.com

COLUMBUS -- National Junior College Athletic Association Division I, No. 6 Iowa Western Community College grabbed 61 total rebounds in an 83-54 win over the Central Community College women's basketball team Thursday at the Raider Fieldhouse.

"Our rebounding was not very good today and that's really what it came down to," Central head coach Mike Kroupa said. "There's a reason why they're a top team in the country in Division I. They're very well coached. They're a great team. Our rebounding really put us in a hole."

Though the Raiders never dug out of that hole, they got close several times throughout the first half.

Iowa Western built a sizable lead early in the game, before the Raiders began forcing Reivers turnovers.

Central pushed within three points midway through the opening half, then broke within two points a minute later off an Adrianna Beck 3-pointer.

But Iowa Western was able to extend possessions and go on a 21-5 run, taking all of the momentum before halftime.

"We play really good defense, they shoot the ball with three seconds left on the shot clock, then get an offensive rebound," Kroupa said. "Not only does it hurt our scoreboard, but it's demoralizing."

Iowa Western's size, which consists of four players over six foot, became too much for the Raiders during the stretch.

Central tried to neutralize, playing its two tallest players in LaShonda Brewer and Makayla Augustine at the same time.

At times that worked well, helping the Raiders record 14 points in the paint, compared to Iowa Western's eight points.

"We did a quick lineup and a big lineup," Kroupa said. "It gave them fits, so that's something we're going to have to work into in the future."

Augustine grabbed four boards and added two points, while Brewer grabbed nine rebounds and 13 points -- her most productive game of the season.

"That was her best game of the year," Kroupa said. "She has a lot of talent. As a coaching staff it's our job to get it out of her, but I was really pleased with how she played today."

But Iowa Western's run at the end of the half put Central on the ropes with a 16-point lead.

Then, a 12-5 Iowa Western run to start the second half all but deflated Central's chances.

"You keep telling the girls, 'Fight, fight, fight,' but the game was pretty much done after that," Kroupa said.

Central was without McKenna Rossmeier, who sprained her ankle Tuesday.

"That was definitely a noticeable absence for us," Kroupa said.

The Raiders now enter a month-long break, before hosing the Concordia JV Jan. 13.

"We'll get better," Kroupa said. "We have a long break and we'll be ready to go when we get back."

Thursday at the Raider Fieldhouse

Iowa Western (15-0) 43 40 - 83

Central (8-7) 27 27 - 54

* IOWA WESTERN (field goals-free throws-fouls-points) - Betty Akathiotou 2-3-4-1-7, Simone Gillum 2-4-4-4-8, Katie Cunningham 2-2-3-1-6, Jasmine Trimboli 10-2-2-2-23, Madison Beagley 3-2-2-0-8, Fanni Csutoras 1-2-2-1-4, Janae Haag 1-0-0-0-2, Chenelle Pelle 3-0-0-2-6, Kendra Hicks 1-0-0-2-2, Brittany Thomas 1-0-0-0-3, Destiny Harris 5-3-3-2-14. Totals 31-18-20-2-14.

* CENTRAL - Adrianna Beck 4-2-5-1-11, Paige Muhammad 3-0-1-3-7, Kelsey Flaherty 0-0-0-1-0, Lana'e Washington-Carson 5-0-0-2-10, Shananthia Bryant 0-0-0-3-0, Montrese Weller 2-0-3-1-5, LaShonda Brewer 6-1-4-2-13, Kami Johnson 2-1-2-0-6, Makayla Augustine 1-0-0-2-2. Totals 23-4-15-15-54.

* 3-point field goals - Iowa Western 3 (Trimboli, Thomas, Harris), Central 4 (Beck, Muhammad, Weller, Johnson).