By: Illinois College had its best offensive quarter since January 6 right at the end, stymieing Lawrence’s attempt at the comeback victory.
Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – For 30 minutes, the matchup between the Illinois College women's basketball team and the Lawrence Vikings was a war of attrition. In the fourth quarter it turned into a track meet. Ahead 34-28 going into the final 10 minutes, the Lady Blues scored 24 points in the fourth – their highest total for a quarter since Jan. 6 – and staved off the upset bid from the Vikings, winning 58-44. IC improves to 10-10 (7-8 Midwest Conference) and keeps Lawrence winless at 0-20 (0-15 MWC).
A solid start to the game made it look like Illinois College would have a relatively easy win on the day. The Lady Blues went ahead by a score of 16-7 after 10 minutes. The Lady Blues opened the scoring with a
Brielle Greenleaf three-pointer and
Alyssa Garde later canned two more, making it 13-5.
Sydney Lett closed the quarter with a triple as well.
The lead went as high as 12 points in the first half after a
Jill Friedrich trey at the 5:38 mark of the second quarter made it 21-9. The well ran dry for the Lady Blues after that though, allowing Lawrence to make up most of the deficit. Illinois College made four free throws but no field goals the remainder of the quarter and at the half, IC was ahead, 25-21.
When Olivia Hoesley made a three-pointer with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter, the Vikings trailed Illinois College by only two, 30-28. IC would hold Lawrence without a point for over four minutes after that however, scoring the last four points of the quarter.
Shannen Quehl made one of two at the line and
Jaicie Halleman followed with a nice crossover and drive to the bucket.
Ashley Hoegger made a free throw in the last 20 seconds to send the Lady Blues to the fourth with a six-point lead.
Twice in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, Lawrence would slice the deficit back to four points. The last time came on a Patsy Kealey jumper with 7:47 left that made it 37-33.
Hanna Bergkoetter responded the next time down the floor and soon Illinois College had the lead back to double-digits. One last push from the Vikings made it 43-37, but Quehl knocked down a pair of free throws and a Greenleaf three-pointer with 3:40 to go served as the metaphorical knockout punch against the MWC's lowest-scoring offense.
Greenleaf and Lett shared team-high scoring honors with 12 points apiece in the contest. Friedrich added 11, making all six of her foul shots. Quehl scored seven points – all at the line – and pulled in 13 rebounds for the Lady Blues. Garde had eight points and Bergkoetter five from off the bench.
Illinois College will be in search of its second straight win next weekend when it travels to Ripon College on Feb. 13. The Lady Blues and Red Hawks will begin at 3 p.m.
