Photo by Iowa Central Athletics: Iowa Central's Trista Ohlmeier drives and scores against DMACC in a Region 11-A game on Saturday inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

A postseason home loss was a sour taste for the Iowa Central women’s basketball squad in what was otherwise a year full of sweet redemption.

The Tritons were eliminated by DMACC on Saturday inside Hodges Fieldhouse, dropping a 95-63 decision to the Bears.

“We’re still incredibly proud of this group,” said first-year head coach Graham McFall. “They raised the standard, competed for each other, and fully bought in. The result was a 15-win turnaround and a team competing at the top of the region.

“That’s a direct reflection of their belief, commitment and teamwork.”

DMACC (23-8 overall) opened up a 28-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back. Five different players reached double figures in scoring for the Bears, who advance to the Region 11-A championship round.

Sophomore Ashlin Jacobsen paced the Tritons (22-9) with 18 points. Trista Ohlmeier added 14, and Shakani Murray contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

Iowa Central struggled from the floor, converting on just 32 percent of its field goals and 19 percent from three-point range.

The Tritons were just 7-21 last season, but McFall’s arrival helped the program right the ship this winter. Iowa Central, which won only two ICCAC games a year ago, tied for third place in the league this year with Iowa Lakes — behind only Kirkwood and NIACC.

“Recruiting season is in full swing, and we’re locked in on finding future Tritons who are ready to raise the standard and continue building on the foundation this group established,” McFall said.

The Bears now head to Kirkwood for the Region 11-A championship on Monday in Cedar Rapids at 5:30 p.m. NIACC and Northeast meet on the B side.

DMACC 95, IOWA CENTRAL 63

DMACC — Chloe Costello 7-12 2-2 17, Reagan Wheeler 4-5 2-2 13, Whitney Jensen 4-13 2-2 12, Breeley Clayburg 4-7 0-0 8, Jordan Valley 2-4 0-0 6, Aunasia Dunn 5-11 1-1 12, Abriya Watkins 4-7 1-1 11, Brooklyn Valley 2-3 0-0 6, Mariam Omran 2-6 2-2 6, Missy Evezic 0-2 2-2 2, Aniston Clayton 0-0 1-2 1, Jaylyn Beran 0-3 1-2 1, Alivia Carr 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 34-75 14-16 95.

Iowa Central — Ashlin Jacobsen 3-9 10-10 18, Trista Ohlmeier 5-15 4-7 14, Shakani Murray 2-9 4-4 8, Sharon Greek 2-5 0-0 5, Izzy Bassett 0-5 0-0 0, MacKenna Bush 1-5 2-2 5, Amelia Echternkamp 2-5 0-2 5, Ashleigh Kerr 2-3 0-0 4, Annika Scott 1-2 0-0 2, Eden Hentges 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 19-59 20-25 63.

Quarter scores: DMACC led 28-9, 46-25, 70-46. Three-point goals: DMACC 13-29 (Wheeler 3-3, J. Valley 2-4, Jensen 2-4, B. Valley 2-3, Watkins 2-4, Dunn 1-4, Costello 1-5, Clayburg 0-1, Beran 0-1); Iowa Central 5-26 (Jacobsen 2-5, Greek 1-3, Echternkamp 1-4, Bush 1-5, Bassett 0-3, Murray 0-3, Ohlmeier 0-2, Kerr 0-1). Rebounds: DMACC 48, Iowa Central 36. Assists: DMACC 19, Iowa Central 9. Turnovers: Iowa Central 18, DMACC 15. Total fouls: DMACC 20, Iowa Central 19.