JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball resumed Midwest Conference play hosting the Buccaneers of Beloit College Wednesday evening in Sherman Gymnasium. The Lady Blues ring in the new year by defeated the Buccaneers by the final score of 57-50 to improve to 8-6 overall and 3-2 in the MWC.
In the opening minutes, each team exchanged baskets to a 7-4 Beloit lead. IC's
Jayln Patterson started a 9-3 run with a successful layup. In the run, Patterson and
Maya Smith each added a basket in the paint as
Anna McKee capped it off with a three-point basket for the 13-9 lead. Beloit countered with a 6-0 run that gave the Buccaneers a 13-15 advantage to end the quarter.
The Lady Blues started the second quarter on a 6-2 run, bookended by
Kendra Bass with a Patterson basket in between for the 19-17 advantage. The Bucs scored the next three points as the layup from Hailey Johnson gave Beloit their final lead of the game at 20-19. On the next IC possession, Bass battled through the contact and converted the three-point play at the free-throw line for the 22-20 lead. In the ladder portion of the first half, IC's Smith knocked down two huge baskets that gave the Lady Blues the 29-26 halftime lead.
IC started the third quarter on a 6-2 run with back-to-back baskets by Bass as Patterson added a layup for the 35-28 advantage. Beloit shortly cut lead down to four at 36-32 on a basket from Elizabeth Kalk. For the remainder of the quarter, each team exchanged baskets as IC took the 41-37 advantage heading into the final quarter.
The Lady Blues started the final quarter on a 5-0 run that included a three-point basket from Smith and a layup from
Madison Webb for the 46-37 lead. Beloit answered with their own 5-0 run that cut the lead down to four at 46-42. On the next IC possession, Smith netted her third three-point basket of the game that increased the lead to seven at 49-42. Shortly later, IC's Bass scored four consecutive points that gave the Lady Blues the 53-46 lead. For the final minute of regulation, IC's Smith went four-of-four from the free-throw line that sealed the victory.
For the game, IC had three student-athletes finish in double-figure scoring led by Bass with 19 points as Smith contributed 17 while Patterson had 11. IC was led in rebounding by Patterson with 14 while Smith hauled down 10. The double-double performance by Patterson's marks her fifth of the season. IC out-rebounded the Buccaneers 55-38 and scored 12 points on second-chance opportunities.
The Lady Blues will continue this five-game homestand hosting Ripon College for a MWC matchup this Saturday, January 6 at 3:00 PM in Sherman Gymnasium.
