JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's basketball team hung in with Central College despite massive foul trouble throughout the game, but eventually those fouls began to wear on the Lady Blues in a 74-64 loss to the Dutch on Wednesday night. Central improves to 3-1 on the season while IC falls to 2-3 overall.
Illinois College took its largest lead of the game midway through the first quarter as a 7-0 run with baskets from
Junie Zirkelbach,
Lakeida Nichols and
Kendra Bass put the Lady Blues ahead, 8-4. Central rallied with a 9-0 run in the final four minutes of the quarter to take a 13-8 lead into the second quarter.
A three-pointer extended the run to 12-0 early on in the second quarter before
Micah Huwe broke the IC scoring drought. Central extended its advantage as high as 15 points before a quick scoring flurry from
Grace Yaunches in the final two minutes brought the Lady Blues to within ten, 31-21, at the break.
The Lady Blues used a strong third quarter to crawl back into the game. Trailing by 11 with four minutes left in the frame, Illinois College ended with an 11-5 push to slice the deficit down to five entering the final quarter.
After trading buckets on their opening possessions of the fourth quarter, Central went to work with an 11-2 run to go back on top by 14 points, 59-45, with six minutes remaining. Over the next four minutes, Illinois College would attempt one final comeback, getting to within six after Nichols hit a three-pointer and Huwe knocked down one of her two free throws. The Dutch successfully broke IC's full-court press on the next possession for a layup and a 64-56 lead. Fouls then played a major factor in the last two minutes as three Lady Blues fouled out and Central scored eight of its last 10 points at the line.
Megan Price,
Lilly Pepper and Yaunches all ended with 11 points on the night. Pepper registered a double-double as she also corralled 12 rebounds. Nichols had nine and Huwe had eight off the bench.
Illinois College continues non-conference play at MacMurray College on Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free with a non-perishable food item.
