Vermilion gives Hibbing a battle

by Tom Coombe
Before two lopsided losses came one of the Vermilion Ironwomen’s best chances for victory this season.
Visiting Hibbing erased an early 10-point deficit and rallied to beat the community college basketball team Jan. 17 at Ely.
Vermilion, which remains in search of its first win, lost its next two games in more convincing fashion and fell both to Northland and Lake Superior.
But the home contest with Hibbing was a battle, with VCC struggling to contain the Cardinals’ Alexis Desjarlait, who scored a game-high 35 points.
The Ironwomen led 20-8 after one quarter and 28-26 at halftime, but the second half belonged to the Cardinials.
Shawna Butler of Ely had her biggest night of the season, pouring in 26 points to pace the Ironwomen.
Sophomore Teri Sutton added 21 points while Lauren Huchel pulled down 11 rebounds to go with four points.
Perennial power Northland had no problem with the Ironwomen Sunday, outscoring the host 30-5 in the third quarter on the way to an 87-41, Northern D ivision rout.
Six Pioneers scored in double figures and the team shot 47 percent from the floor.
VCC was plagued by 28 turnovers, with Sutton scoring a team-best 17 points and Butler finishing with 11.
Wednesday, the Ironwomen traveled to Superior, Wis., and fell 74-45 to Lake Superior.
Sutton scored the bulk of VCC’s points, finishing with 32 to go with seven steals.
Butler was next with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Ironwomen host Itasca at 1 p.m. Saturday.