COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa. – Facing the No. 5 team in the nation, the KCKCC women's basketball team had a hard-fought game where they fell 68-60 to the Iowa Western Reivers.

The Blue Devils are now 10-5 overall on the season.

Both teams struggled in the first quarter. The Blue Devils eventually took an 11-9 lead after Trinity McDow made a basket. Later on, Kaylyn Rogers and Jada Johnson connected on consecutive three-point shots to make it 17-13 KCKCC after the first quarter. Iowa Western regained the lead with a 7-0 run, which ended at the 7:30 mark of the second quarter. The Blue Devils chipped away at the deficit, but the Reivers held their ground and led 34-28 at the break.

In the third quarter, Johnson and Jennifer Guilbeaux put the team within three points at 38-35, but Iowa Western made another run to extend it. Baskets made between the two teams kept the game close as KCKCC trailed 46-44 heading into the final period. KCKCC once again managed to work their way to almost taking the lead as they trailed 55-53 with 4:15 to play. The Reivers found themselves in familiar territory again as they scored 10 straight points with the 65-53 advantage ultimately ending KCKCC's hopes of an upset.

Johnson led the team with 19 points, while McDow and Rebecca Christodoulou each had nine points.

The Blue Devils return to action when they begin conference play Saturday. KCKCC will host No. 4 JCCC at 1 p.m. inside the KCKCC Fieldhouse.