RIVER FOREST, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball team returned to the hardwood with a visit to Concordia University Chicago Saturday afternoon. The Lady Blues fell to the Cougars in double-overtime by the final score of 88-93. IC now stands at 1-1 overall this season.
In the early stages of this decision, the Lady Blues got off to a quick 10-2 start that included an 8-0 run started by
Kendra Bass at the free-throw line. In the run,
Maya Smith and
Jayln Patterson each made a three-point field goal while
Gracie Kizer capped off the run with a fast break lay-in. The Cougars cut the deficit to five at 13-8 on a made free-throw from Khaliah Reid. Shortly later, IC's
Madison Webb increased the lead back to double-digits with four consecutive points for IC. The Lady Blues and Cougars battled back-and-forth for the remainder of the first quarter as IC took the 23-17 lead.
Early in the second, the Cougars went on 5-0 run that cut the deficit down to four at 26-22 on a basket from Nazuri Whigham. After a pair of three throws made by Smith, the Cougars cut the deficit down to two at 28-26 on a basket from Reid. IC's Patterson increased the lead to five with another successful three-point field goal. With nearly five minutes remaining in the half the Cougars started an 11-0 run that was eventually snapped on a fast-break layup from Bass. Concordia Chicago took the 39-34 advantage at the half.
The Lady Blues started the second half on 6-3 run where Patterson cut the deficit down to two at 42-40 after draining a pair of free throws. After a three-point basket from CUC's Reid, IC's
Brooklyn Stiefel started an 8-0 Lady Blues run with a lay-in as she added four additional points in the run that put IC back on top at 46-45. In the final minute of the third quarter,
Sarra Faust made a jump shot in the paint as the score was tied at 50 entering the fourth quarter.
The battle continued in the fourth quarter as each team went basket-for-basket to a tie at 54 apiece. Two minutes later, the Lady Blues generated a 4-0 run that included baskets from Patterson and Bass that took the 58-54 lead. CUC responded with a 4-0 run that tied that game at 58 apeice. The game continued to go back-and-forth as the final minute was a thriller. With 27 seconds remaining in the game, Patterson drained a free throw that gave IC the 70-67 lead. With just a couple seconds remaining on the clock, CUC's Reid made a deep corner three-point shot that sent the game to overtime.
In the first overtime period, IC's Kizer started a 5-0 run with a deep three-point field goal as Patterson added a pair of free throws that gave the Lady Blues the 75-72 advantage. The Cougars battled back and tied the game at 78 apiece with a jump shot from Ellis with 50 seconds remaining which granted a second overtime period.
The Lady Blues started the second overtime period on a 6-2 run that was started on a Webb layup and capped off by the three-point field goal from Patterson that made the score 84-80. However, the Cougars responded with a 4-0 run that tied that game 84. In the final two minutes,
Anna McKee netted a pair of free-throws that gave IC the 88-85 advantage. The Cougars closed out the game on a 8-0 run that generated the final score of 93-88.
For the game, the Lady Blues had three student-athlete finish in double-figure scoring marks led by Patterson with 21 points while Bass and Wightman each contributed 14. Patterson and Wightman each recorded a double-double by hauling down 11 rebounds apiece. Patterson, Bass, and Webb each dished out three assists.
The Lady Blues will play in front of their home crowd for the first time this season on Wednesday, November 15 hosting Webster University at 7:00 PM in Sherman Gymnasium.
