JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's basketball team came to play on Saturday, exploding out of the gates to take a 16-2 lead on Greenville University halfway through the first quarter and never trailing in an 80-60 victory. The win gives IC the unofficial title this weekend at the IC Tip-Off Classic as the both the Lady Blues and Panthers were winners in their openers on Friday. The win also improves Illinois College to 2-2 on the year.
Brielle Greenleaf and
Carly Cameron were named to the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of play on Saturday. Greenleaf led all scorers in the Illinois College victory with 15. Cameron added 14 and tied for a game-high seven rebounds.
Greenville looked like it had a strong press in its win over Millikin University on Friday, but Illinois College repeatedly broke it and charged downcourt for open looks. Cameron had the first bucket of the game off the opening tip and both
Grace Yaunches and
Sydney Lett followed with layups for a 6-0 lead. The Panthers got on the board with a pair of free throws, but IC responded with 10 points in a row, including six straight points from Cameron. Greenville would get back within six points until another surge in the final two minutes of the quarter gave the Lady Blues the 27-15 advantage after one.
Greenleaf had a quiet first quarter, but she accounted for 10 of Illinois College's first 13 points of the second quarter. That, along with a three-pointer from
Madi Peyton and two free throws from Cameron just before the horn, gave IC a 45-26 halftime lead on Greenville.
The lead ballooned to 30 points as Illinois College began the second half with 11 straight points, making it a 16-0 run that bridged the halves. The Panthers ramped up their energy and managed to score 10 straight of their own, but a
Megan Price triple in the final seconds of the third helped Illinois College maintain a 63-42 lead heading into the last 10 minutes.
The fourth quarter ended up being the only quarter of the contest in which Greenville outscored Illinois College. Regardless, the Panthers never got closer than 17 points and IC had an easy time closing out the victory.
Besides Greenleaf and Cameron, Lett and Price also ended up in double-figures for the Lady Blues. Lett ended with 11 and Price came off the bench for 10. Lett and
McKenzie Skaggs tied for the team lead with five assists in the game.
Madison Schoenfeld matched Cameron with seven rebounds on the afternoon.
Non-conference action picks back up on Nov. 20 when Illinois College travels to Lincoln Christian University for a 5 p.m. tip.
