Thursday January 4th Local Sports

TONIGHT:
AM-1490/96.7-FM KRIB, Lions TV at kribam.com — Clear Lake wrestling vs. Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Humboldt and Roland-Story — pregame 5:50, first dual 6:00

 

MASON CITY — After falling behind by six points at the end of the first quarter, the NIACC women’s basketball team outscored Ellsworth 26-7 in the second quarter and 31-11 in the third quarter on their way to an 88-65 win in Iowa Community College Athletic Conference play last night in Mason City. Six different players scored in double figures in the contest for the Trojans — Lilly Radcliffe and Sonya Potthoff each had 12 points off the bench; Alexis Schroder, Tori Miller and Madison Hillman each added 11; while Zhane Singer had 10 points and nine rebounds. The NIACC women improve to 11-4 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

 

== The Ellsworth men outscored NIACC 18-10 in the final 5:21 of the ballgame for a 93-85 victory. NIACC had trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before eventually tying the game at 75 at the 5:21 mark and moments later took its only lead of the game 78-77, but Ellsworth was clutch down the stretch to remain unbeaten in conference play. NIACC had five players in double figures — Wyatt Helming led the way with 16 points, while Adam Hackett had 14, Omarion Roberts 13, Ra’Mir Scott and Keon Alexander each had 12. The NIACC men drop to 8-7 overall and 2-3 in the conference with the loss.

 

Both NIACC teams are off until next Wednesday when they host a doubleheader that has the women playing Southeastern Community College and the men facing Western Iowa Tech.

 

 

AMES — The Iowa State women overcame a slow start and beat Kansas 69-61 in Ames last night as they improve to 2-0 in the Big 12.

That’s Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. Hannah Belanger led three Cyclones in double figures with 19 points as ISU overcame an early 11-point deficit to grind out the win.

Bellanger finished with six three pointers and the Cyclones were 9-of-14 from behind the arc in the second half.

Iowa State is now 9-4 overall and will travel to BYU on Saturday.

 

 

 

IOWA CITY — Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder says the 4th-ranked Hawkeyes are hoping to develop more three point threats going forward. Caitlin Clark had the game winning three pointer in Tuesday’s 76-73 win over Michigan State and finished eight-of-20 from behind the arc. The rest of the team finished one-of-10.

Bluder says the Hawkeyes need to add more three point threats.

A confident Gabbie Marshall would be a big boost. The senior guard is only connecting on 25 percent from three point range.

The Hawkeyes are 13-1 overall and visit Rutgers Friday night, a game you’ll hear on KGLO starting with the pre-game at about 4:45.

 

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Bowen Born scored 21 points in Northern Iowa’s 64-62 victory against Missouri State on Wednesday night.

Born made a layup and a 3-pointer during a 5-0 surge that gave Northern Iowa a 63-59 lead with 1:36 to play. Alston Mason answered with a 3 to pull Missouri State to 63-62. Nate Heise split a pair of free throws for the Panthers to cap the scoring with 12 seconds left. The Bears’ Nick Kramer missed a 3 to end it.

Born added five rebounds for the Panthers (7-7, 1-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Jacob Hutson shot 8 of 12 from the field and 3 for 5 from the line to add 19 points. Tytan Anderson had eight points and shot 3 of 9 from the field and 2 for 3 from the line.

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Zion Williamson scored 27 points and the New Orleans Pelicans kept rolling with a 117-106 victory over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

CJ McCollum added 24 points and Brandon Ingram had 19. The Pelicans pulled away in the second half for their fourth straight victory and ninth in 12 games.

Anthony Edwards scored 35 points for Minnesota, and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22. Minnesota dropped to 14-2 at home and lost consecutive games for the first time this season. The Timberwolves were the last team in the NBA to lose two in a row.

The Timberwolves shot just 38.7% through three quarters. They finished with 13 turnovers, leading to 16 points for the Pelicans. Edwards had six turnovers and Towns shot 8 of 19 from the field, including 0 of 4 from 3-point territory.

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings will start quarterback Nick Mullens in their final regular-season game, with their bid for the playoffs nearly exhausted by persistent problems at the vital position.

Coach Kevin O’Connell announced his decision before practice on Wednesday. The Vikings play at Detroit on Sunday, needing a win and three other NFC games to go their way to convert a postseason long shot.

Mullens replaced rookie Jaren Hall after halftime in last week’s loss to Green Bay, after an interception and a fumble by Hall each set up a Packers touchdown. That was the fifth quarterback switch in nine games for the Vikings, starting with the torn Achilles tendon for Kirk Cousins that uprooted everything.

Hall was the first sub for Cousins, but a concussion forced him out of his first start. Joshua Dobbs gave the Vikings a brief spark, but he threw four interceptions in a loss to Chicago on Nov. 27 and was pulled from a scoreless game in his next appearance. Mullens took it from there, but he was picked off four times by Detroit on Dec. 24. That prompted O’Connell to pick Hall for the crucial game against Green Bay.

Vikings quarterbacks have accounted for 26 turnovers this season, tied for the most in the NFL.

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Relief pitcher Josh Staumont is guaranteed $950,000 as part of his one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins.

The 30-year-old right-hander would earn a $100,000 bonus if he pitches in 60 games this season as part of the deal announced Dec. 27.

Staumont was 9-7 with a 4.01 ERA and eight saves in five seasons for the Kansas City Royals, striking out 191 and walking 95 in 168 1/3 innings.

He had a 5.40 ERA in 21 games for Kansas City last year, going on the injured list June 7 and missing the rest of the season. He had surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.