DES MOINES, IA – Solid defense was instrumental in Northeast Community College’s 65-49 win over Des Moines Area Community College here Tuesday. The Hawks improve to 20-2.

“We played a solid defensive game.  To hold their leading scorer, Carlee Schuhmacher, to only 5 points was a great accomplishment,” said Matt Svehla, Northeast coach. “She is averaging 24 points and 13 rebounds per game, so obviously she can be very difficult to defend.”

Svehla said the Hawks’ played good defense on Schuhmacher, but the perimeter defense was really a key.  “We disrupted post entries and we kept solid pressure on their perimeter for most of the night.  Our offensive execution was only average, but we managed the game pretty well down the stretch.  Once we had a comfortable lead, we ran clock and we slowed the tempo.  All-in-all, it was a good, solid road win.”

Svehla would have liked a better performance from the free throw line, however. The Hawks were 16 of 26.

Northeast was led by Emily Gamble’s 16 points. Yasmin Miller had eleven points, Megan Trinder finished with ten, Ena Viso and Jamea Coleman each had eight, Debinique Knowles had six, Alison Klostergaard had four, and Annie Szczepaniak had two. Lexi Muprhy did not make the trip due to illness.

Northeast will host Iowa Western Community College on Saturday at the Cox Activities Center on the Norfolk campus as part of women’s and men’s doubleheader. The women’s game begins at 5 p.m. while the men will tip-off at 7 p.m.