By Scott A. Kolb

Post-Bulletin, Austin MN 

MASON CITY, Iowa -- Even a game-high 31 points from Krista Viehauser couldn't keep the Riverland women's basketball team from losing to North Iowa Area Community College.

Despite the high point totals from Viehauser, the Lady Blue Devils of Riverland had a tough night shooting on the road. They stayed close most of the way on Tuesday night, but faded down the stretch in a 59-44 loss.

"NIACC has a good team and defensively we can't ask anymore from the players, but offensively we're struggling big time," Riverland coach Suzy Hebrink said. "We were only 16-for-51 from the field, and didn't make any 3-pointers. It's tough to win when you only score 44 points."

Riverland was a woeful 0-for-15 from beyond the 3-point arc. NIACC hit seven treys on the night and a couple of late long balls from Amy Boley sealed the deal.

The visiting Lady Devils also had 27 turnovers in the loss. Viehauser was the only Riverland player in double figures on the night.

Still, the visitors were only down by six points at halftime and the game stayed tight until the last five minutes. The Lady Devils shot a higher percentage at the free throw line and that kept them in the game for a time.

"It was a four-point game until the final five minutes," coach Hebrink said. "They couldn't stop Krista inside, so they switched defensively to a zone and we went cold. They hit a few treys and put it away."

Riverland (1-2) plays its annual alumni game on Saturday, then the home opener is Monday night against the Luther College junior varsity.

RIVERLAND (44)

Viehauser 31, Joni Lillo 8, Brooke Rosenstiel 3, Kelsey Brink 2.

NIACC (59)

Charmin Anderson 13, Amy Boley 12, Akila Hudnell 10, Jameila Hudnell 7, Lauren Gardner 7, Holly Hinderman 4, Alison Ostermann 3, Karen Ott 3.

Halftime -- NIACC 28, Riverland 22.

Three-pointers -- Riverland 0-15. NIACC 7-23 (Boley 4, Ott 1, Ostermann 1, J.Hudnell 1).

Free throws -- Riverland 12-19, NIACC 14-28.

Turnovers -- Riverland 27, NIACC 28.

Rebounds -- Riverland 28 (Viehauser 9); NIACC 37.

Steals -- Riverland 17, NIACC 18.

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