Anoka-Ramsey has the top-rated team in all of NJCAA Division III women’s basketball.
Vermilion is looking to climb after winning only five games a year ago.
On paper, the neutral site in Hibbing clash on Nov. 14 figured to be a laugher - but was anything but.
The upset-minded and scrappy Ironhawks were within two points at halftime and single digits in the final quarter before fading in an 87-67 loss to the powerful Rams.
“We were right here and they just made a run at us in the second half and got in a little foul trouble,” said Vermilion head coach Ryan Zyla. “We got it down to six or eight in the fourth quarter, but credit them. They’re number-one for a reason.”
A standout performance from freshman Trinity Bodie, a freshman guard from the Bahamas, helped keep the Ironhawks close against Anoka-Ramsey.
The Rams led by five points after one quarter and used their size advantage to control the boards, racking up a 50-29 rebounding edge for the game.
A late surge by the Ironhawks, just prior to the halftime horn, showed the Rams that they were in for a fight.
“I think they got up 12 and we finished the half with a 10-0 run,” said Zyla.
Anoka-Ramsey led 38-36 at the break but reasserted control in the third quarter, using its rebounding edge in part to build a 15-point lead at 63-48.
Vermilion had no counter to the Rams’ Mariam Alowonie, who controlled things inside, going an astounding 15-for-19 from the floor on the way to a 35-point, 22-rebound performance.
The six-footer from Minneapolis also had four assists and swatted away four shots.
Charis McKenzie (13 points) and Anisa Longs (12) also reached double digits for the winners.
Bodie was the only Vermilion player in double figures while Amyia Yunker came off the bench to score nine points.
Alyria Greene contributed eight points and eight rebounds to the Vermilion cause and teammates Danita Gonzalez and Tamia Cahee wound up with six points each.
“We’re still young and make some mistakes and have to get better, but I think the game showed we have the ability to play with anyone in the country,” said Zyla. “We’re excited to play them again in a couple weeks (Dec. 5 at Ely).”
• The second half of a rare weekend, neutral site series concluded with a Vermilion win on Saturday.
The Ironhawks piled up 52 first-half points and cruised to a 101-42 win over Riverland, climbing back over the .500 mark to 4-3 for the season.
Heavynn Eagle, a freshman from North Dakota, caught fire and scored a game-high 19 points in a reserve role. She sank three of Vermilion’s nine three-point baskets.
Cahee scored 18 points, Gonzalez flirted with a double- double during a 15-point, eight-steal night, with Greene (13 points) and Bodie (12) close behind.
Vermilion’s Alesha Maya added nine points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Vermilion pressured Riverland into submission, forcing over 40 turnovers and picking up 34 steals in the contest.
• The Ironhawks are at Fergus Falls and St. Cloud this weekend, and a Black Friday matchup at North Iowa follows.
“We’ve seen a little of Fergus and St. Cloud and both are well coached, but we want to get better at what we’re doing, play fast and hopefully get two wins,” said Zyla.
• The Ironhawks’ next home clash is slated for Dec. 5, against Anoka-Ramsey.
