JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball team began a three-game Midwest Conference homestand hosting Cornell College Tuesday night in Sherman Gymnasium. IC's
Kendra Bass led the Lady Blues with a career-best performance of 27 points that helped lift IC over Cornell in overtime by the final score of 60-54. IC now improves to 10-9 overall and 5-5 in the MWC.
In the final 12 seconds of regulation, IC's
Ashlyn Wightman got fouled and tied the game at 48 apiece at the free-throw line that forced overtime. In overtime, the Lady Blues stretched the lead to four at 52-48 on back-to-back baskets in the paint from Wightman and Bass. Cornell cut the lead down to one at 52-51 on a three-point basket from Heide Jorgensen. IC responded with an 8-0 run as six points came from the free-throw line. IC outscored Cornell 12-6 in the overtime period as
Jayln Patterson and Bass each recorded four points that helped sealed the victory.
The rematch decision began with a 7-2 run by the Rams that stretched midway through the quarter. At the 4:47 mark, IC's
Anna McKee started a 5-0 run with three-point basket as
Madison Webb's lay-in tied the game at seven apiece. For the remainder of the quarter, each team exchanged baskets as the IC baskets came from
Maya Smith and Bass that cut the Ram lead down to one at 12-13.
Bass continued the hot streak in the second as she scored seven unanswered points for IC. Bass capped out a career-best 10-point individual run with a lay-in that gave the Lady Blues the 19-13 advantage. However, the Rams responded with a 7-0 run as the basket from Ani'ja Simmons gave Cornell the 20-19 lead. IC closed out the first half on 9-2 run as Bass scored the final five points that generated the 28-22 halftime advantage. Bass scored 12 points in the quarter while shooting five-of-seven from the field.
After a slow start offensively by both teams in third quarter, Bass started a 7-1 run as she scored five points in the run that included a basket from Wightman for the double-digit lead at 35-23. After each team exchanged three-point baskets,
Madison Webb netted a three-point basket with two seconds remaining that gave IC the 41-28 advantage going into the fourth.
Cornell began the fourth quarter on a 11-2 run that was eventually snapped on a three-point basket from McKee for the seven-point IC lead at 46-39. Over the next four minutes of action, Cornell responded with a 7-0 run as Kali March tied the game at 46 apiece with just 1:17 remaining on the clock. With 42 seconds left in regulation, Bass was fouled and gave IC the 47-46 lead at free-throw line. Fourteen second later, March gave Cornell the 48-47 advantage with a basket. IC's Wightman forced overtime by splitting a pair of free-throws.
For the game, IC was led in scoring by Bass with 27 points as she tied with Patterson with a team-high four assists. McKee contributed 12 points while Wightman added seven points while leading the team with eight rebounds.
The Lady Blues will continue this home stretch hosting Grinnell College this Saturday, January 27 at 5:00 PM for Pink Out Night.
