-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Mardaeja Cross of Iowa Central shoots around Southwestern Vanessa Romo on Wednesday

The Iowa Central women got back to the .500 mark on the season and earned their first ICCAC victory of the year here Wednesday night.

Brittany West scored 15 points, with Emma O’Donoghue and Mardaeja Cross adding 14 each, as the Tritons picked up a 64-51 victory over Southwestern inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

West and O’Donoughue combined to go 12-for-15 from the field, scoring 21 points in the opening half for Iowa Central (9-9 overall, 1-1 in league).

Sarah Rolling added 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists, with Avery Terwilliger chipping in seven points, seven rebounds and four assists.

“We were a little short-handed with Kira (Ward) at a family funeral, so I was concerned with how (Southwestern) might use penetration against us,” ICCC head coach Kelly Kruger said. “We didn’t have much depth inside, but we were able to get a good team effort and pick up the win.”

The Tritons were 14-of-29 shooting over the opening 20 minutes, with the Spartans (6-9, 0-2) going 10 of 26 during that same span and just 5-for-18 from the 3-point line.

T’Keyah Stapleton led Southwestern with 13 points, as three others scored nine each.

“I felt pretty good up seven at the half,” Kruger said. “They made some runs at us in the second half, but we withstood it. Cross took over for us playing her best game of the year.”

The freshman from Illinois came off the bench, scoring nine in the second half. Cross also had five rebounds and three assists.

“Mardaeja missed a couple of games early on in the second semester,” Kruger said. “She did some nice things in the first half (this past Saturday) against Kirkwood, but then was gone. This was her best performance in a long time.”

Iowa Central held a 26-16 advantage in terms of points in the paint and were plus-nine in bench points. Kryssie Okinaka had two key steals late in the game and the Tritons finished with 16 assists as a team.

“These are the games you have to win,” Kruger said. “We didn’t stay persistent with our play against Kirkwood or Iowa Western. We were more persistent with our play and that is how you beat the top teams.”

Next action for Iowa Central is Saturday when they travel to seventh-ranked NIACC for a 1 p.m. tip. The Trojans (14-4, 1-1) fell to No. 2 Kirkwood last night, 68-59.

IOWA CENTRAL 64, SOUTHWESTERN 51

Iowa Central — Brittany West 6-8 0-2 15, Kryssie Okinaka 1-4 0-0 2, Emma O’Donoghue 6-7 2-3 14, Avery Terwilliger 3-6 0-0 7, Sarah Rolling 5-12 0-0 10, Jaylin Carter 0-1 0-0 0, Mardaeja Cross 6-12 2-4 14, Rachel Toto 1-7 0-0 2. Totals: 28-57 4-9 64.

Southwestern — T’Keyah Stapleton 4-9 3-3 13, Jasmine Aviles 4-6 1-2 9, Keaundra Washington 2-11 3-3 9, Tina Lair Van-Meter 3-8 3-7 9, Vanessa Romo 2-9 0-0 4, Raeven Hayes 2-5 0-0 6, Chelsey Trautloff 0-3 1-2 1, Kierra Brice 0-2 0-0 0, Johnae Allen 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 17-53 11-17 51.

Quarter scores: Iowa Central led 18-13, 35-28, 45-35. 3-point goals: Iowa Central 4-14 (West 3-4, O’Donoghue 0-1, Terwilliger 1-4, Rolling 0-1, Toto 0-4); Southwestern 6-25 (Stapleton 2-6, Aviles 0-1, Washington 2-7, Lair Van-Meter 0-2, Romo 0-4, Hayes 2-2, Trautloff 0-2, Brice 0-1). Total rebounds: Iowa Central 39, Southwestern 32. Steals: Iowa Central 8, Southwestern 5. Blocked shots: Iowa Central 1, Southwestern 1. Assists: Iowa Central 16, Southwestern 5. Turnovers: Iowa Central 14, Southwestern 14. Team fouls: Iowa Central 18, Southwestern 11.