JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – Illinois College stayed within striking distance throughout but was unable to overcome a strong fourth quarter from Lawrence, falling 59-49 Friday afternoon in a Midwest Conference match up at Sherman Gymnasium.
With the loss, the Lady Blues drop to 8-10 overall and 4-5 in conference play, while Lawrence improves to 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the MWC.
Lawrence took an early edge in the opening quarter, holding a 15-10 lead after one. The Lady Blues continued to battle in the second quarter, trimming the deficit to five points at halftime as Lawrence carried a 27-20 advantage into the break.
Illinois College came out with energy in the third quarter, matching Lawrence point for point and cutting into the deficit behind improved offensive efficiency. The Lady Blues outscored the Vikings 13-13 in the period, but Lawrence maintained a 40–33 lead heading into the final quarter.
The Lady Blues made a push late in the fourth, narrowing the margin to three points with just under three minutes remaining. Lawrence, however, responded down the stretch, converting key baskets and free throws to seal the 59-49 victory.
Cora DeSutter led Illinois College with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Jayln Patterson added 10 points and six rebounds. Raegen Stringer chipped in seven points, and Addison Minor and Kaity Robinson each contributed four points off the bench.
Illinois College shot 37 percent from the field and forced 22 Lawrence turnovers, turning them into 13 points. The Lady Blues also held a narrow edge in bench scoring but were outscored 19–16 in the fourth quarter as Lawrence closed out the game at the free-throw line.
Up Next
The Lady Blues will travel to Galesburg on Tuesday for a Midwest Conference match up against Knox College, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off.
