By: Dana Becker

Messenger Sports Staff 

The Iowa Central women found themselves in a hole here Wednesday night vs. ICCAC rival Des Moines Area.

Behind a frentic pace set by the Bears, the Tritons were unable to get on track, falling inside Hodges Fieldhouse, 80-66.

DMACC (7-6 overall, 3-1 in league) set the tone early, jumping out to a nine-point lead that they turned into a 50-31 halftime advantage on Iowa Central (9-2, 1-2).

For the Tritons, Laney Pilcher had a team-high 18 points with five rebounds. Kaitlyn Tendal added 14 points and Amaya Terrell had 11 off the bench.

"Tough loss inside Hodges Fieldhouse for our team," ICCC head coach Sabah Dickerson said. "Region 11 is always difficult because there's no two teams that play the same."

DMACC held a plus-25-edge in total rebounds including an 18-5 advantage on the offensive glass.

Alyssa Lux added four points, three assists and three steals for Iowa Central, with Fort Dodge Senior High graduate Lainey Maehl chipping in four points, four boards and a steal.

"We can't hang our heads because outside of two difficult stretches, we did a great job," Dickerson said. "We have to continue to improve daily and remember this season is long."

Before they close the door on 2023, the Tritons will look to snap a two-game conference losing skid when they travel to Council Bluffs on Sunday to face sixth-ranked Iowa Western at 2 p.m.