SVEHLA EARNS 700TH VICTORY IN COACHING CAREER AS HAWKS DOWN BEARS

NORFOLK, Neb. – The Northeast Community College women's basketball team hosted Des Moines Area Community College at the Cox Activities Center in Norfolk Wednesday night in what was an important matchup for conference positioning. The Hawks took the showdown by a final score of 70-62.

Northeast (15-4, 7-3 ICCAC) entered the night tied with the visiting Bears in the ICCAC standings and took the previous meeting of the two squads by a final score of 63-57 back on December 4 in Boone, Iowa. The Hawks had three-different scorers over 15 points as Aaliyah Jones (Pine Ridge, S.D.) tallied 19 points, Clara Garrote (Salamanca, Spain) put in a season-high 18 and Mia Wiederin (Norfolk, Neb.) had 17 of her own.

The victory marked the 700th in the illustrious career of Northeast head women's basketball coach Matt Svehla, who is in year 31 at the helm of the Hawks. Svehla was honored after the contest for the achievement with his family and supporters of the women's basketball program surrounding him. Svehla has won 20 or more games 22 different times at Northeast and has averaged 23 wins a season throughout his time with the Hawks. Svehla played at Northeast from 1985-87 before continuing his academic and athletic career at the University of Nebraska from 1987-89.

The Hawks now sit in a tie for third in the conference standings with nine matchups left in the regular season.

STAT SHEET:

Aaliyah Jones (Pine Ridge, S.D.): 19 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL

Clara Garrote (Salamanca, Spain): 18 PTS, 2 AST, 2 STL

Mia Wiederin (Norfolk, Neb.): 17 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST

HEAR FROM THE HAWKS COACH:

Head Women's Basketball Coach Matt Svehla on the important victory against DMACC:

"I thought we got off to a good start and had control, but DMACC is a good team, and they cut it to seven at halftime," Svehla said. "We got off to a lethargic start in the second half and they cut it to one immediately, but we got rolling in the third quarter. We shot free throws well and did a good job of defending the three-point shooting and contested shots. Good win for us and now we have another tough one on the road against NIACC, a team that beat us on our home floor and who is very good. We are going to have to play good basketball."

Svehla on what 700 victories means to him:

"You're appreciative to the institution, to your administration, coaches and the players," Svehla said. "Without all of them hiring you, giving you the resources you need and the players doing what you are asking them to do, none of it happens. You have to have all of the pieces in place, and it starts with having talented players. You try to steer them in the right direction and hopefully good things happen."

UP NEXT:

The Hawks will hit the road for a battle against North Iowa Area Community College at 1 p.m. Saturday in Mason City, Iowa.

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