JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois College women's basketball team was able to find its preferred tempo against a Ripon College squad that usually slows the game down, however the Lady Blues couldn't contain Alison Leslie as she hit nine three-pointers and ended with 33 points for the Red Hawks in an 82-72 victory. The win for Ripon breaks the tie for first place in the Midwest Conference, with the Red Hawks taking over first place at 8-3 (4-0 MWC) and Illinois College falling into a tie for second at 7-4 (3-1 MWC).
A big edge in the second quarter allowed Ripon to take a seven-point lead into the half, but before that, Illinois College had come out the stronger team, grabbing a 23-18 lead after one quarter. The Lady Blues had five three-pointers in the first quarter and
Krista Bass gave IC its largest lead at 23-15 with a triple with one minute left in the opening period.
Ripon rallied with a 13-2 run bridging the first and second quarters. A three from
Megan Price tied the score for the final time at 30-30 as the clock ticked under five minutes until halftime, but the Red Hawks then reeled off 10 straight points and took a 42-35 lead into the break.
Early in the third quarter, Ripon grew its lead to double-digits and looked like it might pull away before Illinois College pulled it close with an 11-4 run. Two free throws from
Carly Cameron with 2:29 left in the quarter got the Lady Blues within four at 50-46 before Ripon opened the game back up with a 10-0 run.
From that point on, IC could get no closer than eight points, twice working back within that margin on three-pointers from
Grace Yaunches. Though that happened early in the fourth quarter, the Lady Blues were unable to slow the Red Hawks down and trailed by double-digits through most of the final minutes.
The trio of Yaunches, Price and
Lilly Pepper combined for 59 of Illinois College's 72 points in the game. Yaunches led the team with 22, Pepper had a double-double with 20 points and 10 boards, and Price ended with 17.
Illinois College will try to start a new winning streak this week with a Jan. 8 road trip to De Pere, Wis. to face St. Norbert College (1-10, 0-4 MWC) at 7:30 p.m.
