JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball team concluded its three-game Midwest Conference homestand hosting Monmouth College for a rematch decision Wednesday night in Sherman Gymnasium. The Lady Blues dominated the Fighting Scots by the final score of 72-45.
With the victory, IC now stands at 12-9 overall and currently in a three-way tie with Cornell and Grinnell for third place in the MWC standings. In the homestand, the Lady Blues went 3-0 by defeating Cornell and Grinnell.
On the opening tip, IC struck first with a basket in the paint by
Ashlyn Wightman. At 8:14 mark, the Lady Blues erupted for a 14-0 run that was started and ended on baskets from Wightman. In the run, Wightman added an additional basket for a total of six points as
Jayln Patterson contributed four points. Also in the run,
Kendra Bass and
Anna McKee each netted a three-point basket that helped create the 16-2 advantage. Monmouth's Allie Hoy snapped the run with a pair of free-throws that made the score 16-4. IC scored the final three points in the quarter that generate a 19-4 advantage heading into the second.
The Fighting Scots opened the second quarter on a 7-3 run that cut the lead down to eleven at 22-11 as the lone IC basket came McKee with a three-point field goal. With 3:26 remaining in the first half, IC countered with a 7-0 run that started on a basket from Wightman. In the run,
Gracie Kizer added a lay-in that was followed up with a conventional three-point play by Bass for the 29-11 advantage. After a three-point basket scored by Monmouth's Jaydn Mitchell, IC's Wightman scored the final basket of the half that created a 31-14 advantage into halftime.
Monmouth's Danielle Beach opened the second half scoring with a basket in the paint. After that basket by Beach, IC stretched its lead to 21 at 39-18 with an 8-2 run. In the run, Patterson and
Maya Smith each added a basket as Bass ended the run with by converting her second conventional three-point play of the night. The Lady Blues and Fighting Scots exchanged baskets to a 21-point advantage at 48-27. IC closed out the quarter on a 9-3 run as Bass scored four points while Wightman and Patterson each netted a basket for that created 57-30 going into the final quarter.
The Lady Blues opened the fourth quarter on a 6-2 run that included baskets from Smith and Bass as
Sarra Faust ended the run by knocking down a pair of free-throws for the 63-32 lead. Monmouth responded with a 6-2 run that cut the lead down to 27 at 65-38. IC countered with a 5-0 run that started on a free-throw from
Brooklyn Stiefel that was capped off on back-to-back baskets from
Madison Webb to the score 70-38. With 41 seconds remaining in the game,
Shaili Betts scored with her first career basket with a layup that was assisted by
Keaton Link for the final IC points of the game.
For the game, IC had three student-athlete finish in double-figure scoring led by Bass with 20 points that included shooting seven-for-seven from the free-throw line. Wightman was second in scoring as she contributed 15 while Patterson added 10. IC was led in rebounding by Bass with nine while Smith and Faust each added a team-high three assists. Defensively, Wightman and Faust each recorded two blocks as Smith and Kizer had three steals.
All IC 14 student-athletes on the roster received at least five minutes of playing time in this decision. As a team, IC outscored Monmouth 42-14 with points scored in the paint and forced 23 turnovers for 16 points.
The Lady Blues will travel to Appleton, Wisconsin on Saturday, February 3 to face the Vikings of Lawrence University at 3:00PM for a rematch decision.
