Reivers, Hawks Meet in Division I Regional Finale

The Division I Women's Basketball Championship on Tuesday will be the last of its kind for the foreseeable future as Iowa Western, Marshalltown and Northeast will all move to Division II beginning in the 2021-22 season.

Iowa Western hosts the tournament finale in Council Bluffs at 7:00 p.m. against Northeast. The two teams have faced off twice already this season with Iowa Western sweeping the regular season matchups, 94-70 on Feb. 3 and 70-41 on March 3.

The two teams have a long-standing history and have come to meet to compete for the regular season crown and the Region XI Tournament Championship every season since Northeast joined the ICCAC in 2012-13. Northeast burst on to the scene that year and won the Region XI Championship 70-64 in their first season.

Since then, Iowa Western has had the edge, winning five of the last seven region titles, including the last two.

Although Iowa Western and Northeast split the regular season championship spot in 2019-2020, Iowa Western topped the standings from 2016-2019, after the Hawks won three straight years from 2013-2015.

The regular season matchups are usually competitive, however, this season, the Reivers hold an average win margin of 27 points.

In the first meeting, Northeast held a four-point lead after the first quarter, but Iowa Western exploded for a 28-point second quarter and held a 10-point lead at halftime. The Reivers totaled 53 points in the second half and ran off with a 94-70 win.

Hayley Berfield and Gabriella Smith led the way with 22 points and 21 points respectively. Four of the five starters for Northeast scored in double-digits, but the difference was in bench points. The Hawks had just five to the Reivers 34.

Iowa Western's Smith also helped lead the Reivers to a dominant 70-41 win over in the second meeting this season. Smith had 19 points and six rebounds to lead them to the win that solidified their spot as the host of the 2021 Division I Women's Basketball Championship game.

Heading into the championship, there are several returners who are no stranger to this matchup. Northeast returners include, Breanna Stouffer, Lorna Maxon, and Kelly Kleffner.

Iowa Western has two returners from last season, Berfield and Dustie Obah.

Although this is the last meeting at the Division I level between these two, they will continue the rivalry at the Division II level next season. 

Iowa Western and Northeast will meet Tuesday, April 6 for the Region XI Championship at 7:00 p.m. in Council Bluffs at Reiver Arena.

ICCAC Regular Season Championship:

2020 - Iowa Western def. Northeast, 92-57

2019 - Iowa Western def. Northeast, 74-56

2018 - Northeast def. Iowa Western, 72-55

2017 - Iowa Western def. Northeast, 74-69

2016 - Northeast def. Iowa Western, 63-60

2015 - Iowa Western def. Northeast, 66-61

2014 - Iowa Western def. Northeast, 80-62

2013 - Northeast def. Iowa Western, 70-64

Head-to-head since 2013:

All Time: Iowa Western leads 19-7

Regular Season: Iowa Western leads 14-4

Regional Championship: Iowa Western leads 5-3