JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's basketball team controlled the closing minutes of the game on Friday night to put away Westminster College (Mo.), 80-59, in the IC Tip-Off Classic. The Blue Jays, down eight at the half, got within three in the third quarter before the Lady Blues took over and pulled away for the easy win. IC improves to 1-2 with the win.
The game opened without a point for over two minutes, but Illinois College soon established a 17-8 lead after back-to-back buckets from
Grace Yaunches. Midway through the second quarter, Westminster pulled within two on a three-pointer from Kendahl Miller. Down on the other end,
Junie Zirkelbach answered back with a corner three to extend IC's lead to 27-22. Yaunches followed with two straight baskets, giving the Lady Blues a 31-22 lead. At the half, the Lady Blues led, 37-29.
Westminster spent much of the third quarter on the comeback trail, getting within three, 46-43, on a pair of free throws from Makayla Jackson. As the clock ticked towards two minutes remaining in the quarter,
Madison Schoenfeld scored down low for Illinois College and Yaunches followed with a quick steal and and-one layup for a 51-43 edge. The IC press again forced a turnover on Westminster's next possession and
Madi Peyton's steal led to a pair of Zirkelbach free throws to make it 53-43.
The opening basket of the fourth quarter belonged to the Blue Jays and got them within eight, 55-47, but Illinois College quickly went back up the floor and scored on a Schoenfeld layup. Westminster would never get the deficit back to single-digits from there. A long scoreless drought late in the contest by the visitors allowed the Lady Blues to go on a 9-0 run and take a 21-point lead, which held up to the end.
Yaunches and
Brielle Greenleaf tied for the high scoring honors for Illinois College as each finished with 15 points on the night.
Carly Cameron tacked on 11 and both Schoenfeld and
Sydney Lett had nine.
Though tomorrow's matchup was pre-determined, it essentially serves as a championship game for the IC Tip-Off Classic. Greenville University a 93-86 overtime winner over Millikin University, and the Panthers will meet the Lady Blues in Sherman Gymnasium tomorrow at 2 p.m.
