The Communique

Issue date: 1/28/10 Section: Sports

Coach Kim Muhl goes over the game plan with his team during a timeout.

While many Kirkwood Community College students relaxed over the winter break, the third ranked Kirkwood women's basketball team was hard at work.

The Eagles, 18-1, dropped their first game of the season Dec. 12 to second-ranked Illinois Central, 58-68.

Illinois Central "played very well and we had no energy," said women's head coach Kim Muhl.

Bouncing back from the loss, the women rattled off five wins through the rest of break, including victories over conference foes Iowa Lakes, 67-42 and Ellsworth, 66-43.

The women also travelled to Peoria, Ill. for the Illinois Central Tournament, where they trounced Kellogg Community College, 88-46, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, 100-38, before edging out Hutchinson Community College, 58-52.

"Our players have a shorter break and playing during break helps keep us focused," Muhl said.

In the heart of the conference schedule, Kirkwood has defeated Des Moines Area Community College, 10th-ranked Marshalltown Community College, Southwestern Community College and North Iowa Area Community College.

Contributions from each player on the team have made the Eagles tough to stop.

Freshman Danielle Hellickson has stepped up for the Eagles, leading the team in scoring at 11.6 points per game over the last 10 outings.

Sophomore Kalli Hansen and freshman Ashley Birts have continued their production, leading the season scoring at 10.3 and 9.1 points per game respectively.

Birts and Hellickson have been working hard in the middle, grabbing over five rebounds per game each.

"Our depth has helped us. We are able to wear people down," said Muhl.

The women can be seen in home action against Iowa Lakes on Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. and Ellsworth on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m.

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