REDLANDS, Calif. – The Illinois College women's basketball team lost its first true road contest of the 2018-19 season on Saturday night, falling victim to the balanced scoring options of the University of Redlands by a score of 79-61. The Bulldogs had six players score at least eight points – including all five starters – and led nearly the whole way after a fast start to the first quarter.
The lone tie of the contest came within 90 seconds when
Sydney Lett matched a Cassandra Lacey jumper to leave the game tied at 2-2. Redlands then went on a 6-0 run before
Grace Yaunches converted a layup to make it 8-4. The Bulldogs followed that up with an 11-0 run to take a 19-4 lead before
Krista Bass and
Carly Cameron connected on back-to-back triples to make it 19-10. Redlands ended the first quarter with a 23-12 advantage.
Illinois College worked the deficit back into single-digits twice in the second quarter, the last time coming on a fast-break layup from
Madi Peyton to make it 29-20. Peyton added a three-pointer just before halftime, but Redlands took a 41-29 lead into the break.
The Lady Blues were still in striking distance midway through the third quarter at 50-37 before Redlands went on a 13-0 run to essentially put the game away. The lead grew to as much as 28 before IC began to rally in the fourth quarter. Some late-game highlights for the Lady Blues included the first career collegiate points for
Maggie Dooley,
Samantha Lordan and
Junie Zirkelbach.
Brielle Greenleaf ended as Illinois College's leader in points and rebounds on Saturday, recording 12 points and eight boards. Cameron also hit double-figures with 11 points and she added seven rebounds as well. Peyton supplied eight points off the bench, while Lett led the Lady Blues with four assists on the night.
Illinois College makes its home debut on Friday evening, competing in the first day of the IC Tip-Off Classic in Sherman Gymnasium. The Lady Blues will meet Westminster College (Mo.) in a 6 p.m. contest.
