The ACGC Girls Basketball team is a perfect 7-0 as the holiday break is here. The Chargers have won each game by at least ten points and haven’t allowed more than 48 points in a game yet. Head Coach Brad Baudler says it’s been an entire team effort to get out to this well of a start.

ACGC has had nine players appear in every game so far with two players averaging double figures. Senior Camdyn Richter and Junior Olivia Mahaffey have been the primary scorers for the Chargers this season. Mahaffey comes off the bench and provides that depth needed to be successful. Baudler says the depth has been a massive piece to the year so far.

The amount of depth provides the energy each and every day on the floor.

ACGC is ranked inside the top ten in each of the major polls and look to continue their perfect season Tuesday, December 6th at Des Moines Christian.

Illinois State shot a sizzling 63 percent and beat Drake 73-56, Monday, in the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs fall to 1-2 in the Valley and suffered their fifth loss at home this season.

That’s Drake coach Eric Henderson, who says the Bulldogs need to become a more physical team.

Drake is 7-7 overall.

The third ranked Iowa State men overcame a sluggish first half, Monday, and beat Houston Christian 89-61 in Ames. Joshua Jefferson led the way with 23 points, Blake Buchanan scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds as ISU moved to 13-0.

The Cyclones open Big-12 play at home on Friday night against West Virginia.

The UNI men took control down the stretch to grind out a 58-48 win Monday, over Valparaiso in the McLeod Center. The Panthers limited Valpo to just 29 percent shooting, including three-of-23 from three point range. The Panthers move to 2-0 in the Valley.

That’s UNI coach Ben Jacobson, who remains concerned about defensive rebounding. Valpo had 12 offensive rebounds in the game.

Will Hornseth led the Panthers by tying his career high with 16 points.

Bennett Stirtz had 22 points and the 25th ranked Iowa men shot 58 percent in a 90-62 win over UMass-Lowell in Iowa City. Stirtz made seven-of-13 shots and dished out eight assists as the Hawkeyes improve to 11-2.

That’s Iowa coach Ben McCollum, who was happy with the way his team returned from Christmas break.

Junior forward Cam Manyawu had 14 points and nine rebounds. The Hawkeyes return to Big Ten action on Saturday by hosting UCLA.

Manyawu says Saturday’s game will match teams that pride themselves on defense.

The Drake women outscored Illinois-Chicago 22-12 in the third quarter, today (Monday) to take control in a 78-62 victory in Chicago. Senior guard Abbie Aalsma had a career high 30 as the Bulldogs move to 2-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Bulldogs were 12-of-23 from three point range and also had 29 assists. Drake coach Allison Pohlman.

An Iowa defense that ranks sixth nationally by giving up less than 15 points per game faces a big challenge in Wednesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl against 14th ranked Vanderbilt. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist Diego Pavia at quarterback, the Commodores are averaging more than 39 points per game in posting a 10-2 record. Pavia has passed for nearly 32 hundred yards and has also added more than 800 yards of rushing.

That’s Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, who says Pavia is at his best when he scrambles.

Ferentz says the trick for the defense will be getting pressure on Pavia without giving up big plays.

Iowa middle linebacker Jayden Montgomery says Pavia has the ability to dominate a game.

Montgomery says Pavia’s ability to run makes him extra dangerous.

Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa on the challenge Pavia will provide…*

The 23rd ranked Hawkeyes are 8-4.

The 14th ranked Iowa Hawkeye women used a 16-0 first quarter run to take command and beat Penn State 99-76 in Iowa City. Sophomore center Ava Heiden had a career-high 27 while point guard Chit Chat Wright had 12 of her 16 points in the opening quarter.

The Hawkeyes put the game away in the third quarter and led by as many 25 points in the second half as they move to 2-0 in the Big Ten and 11-2 overall.

That’s Iowa coach Jan Jensen.

Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen has gone from walk-on to consensus All-American. The native of Williamsburg will play his final game in a Hawkeye uniform on New Year’s Even against 14th ranked Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. He leads the nation with 965 return yards this season.

Wetjen was hoping to have an impact after transferring from Iowa Western Community College.

Wetjen says it was his second season with the Hawkeyes that served as a breakthrough.

The third ranked Iowa State men close out non-conference play at home on Monday night by hosting Houston Christian. The Cyclones are 12-0 and coach T.J. Otzelberger says this is a good time of year to focus on improvement.

Otzelberger says while happy with the start the Cyclones know the road ahead will get tougher.

Houston Christian is 5-7 and Craig Doty is in his second season leading the Huskies. Doty led Graceland to an NAIA national title in 2018.