Lady Blues Grind Out Tough MWC Victory Over Grinnell

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball continued its three-game Midwest Conference homestand, hosting Grinnell College Saturday evening in Sherman Gymnasium. The Lady Blues outscored the Pioneers 16-10 in the fourth quarter that helped earn a 61-55 victory. With the victory, IC improves to 11-9 overall and in a three-way tie for fourth in the MWC standings with a 6-5 conference record. 

In the early minutes of action, IC's Ashlyn Wightman opened the scoring for IC with back-to-back baskets that tied the game at four apiece. Shortly later, Jayln Patterson added consecutive baskets that gave IC the 8-6 advantage. Grinnell's Bailey Strovers knocked down a three-point basket that gave the Pioneers the 9-8 lead. IC closed out the quarter on a 10-5 run as Gracie Kizer and Madison Webb each scored five points that granted the 18-14 lead.  

The Pioneers started the second quarter on a 7-2 run that tied the game at 21 apiece. Each team exchanged baskets as the IC points came from Kendra Bass and Patterson for the 25-24 advantage. With 2:15 remaining in the half, Grinnell tied the game at 25 apiece that started a 6-2 run to finish off the half, giving the Pioneers the 30-27 advantage heading into the half. 

The battle continued in the third quarter as Grinnell stretched their lead out to five at 34-29. The Lady Blues countered with a 9-2 run that started on a pair of free-throw from Sarra Faust that was capped off on a deep three-point basket from Anna McKee for the 38-36 IC lead. Shortly later, McKee and Strovers exchanged three-point baskets that tied the game at 41 apiece. In the final minute of the quarter, Grinnell outscored IC 5-4 that tied the game at 45 apiece.

Grinnell jumped out to an early 6-2 run to start the final quarter that created the four-point advantage at 51-47 for the Pioneers. The Lady Blues responded with an 8-2 run as Bass added four points in the run while Wightman and Webb each adding a basket for the 55-53 advantage. After a Grinnell basket that tied the game at 55 apiece, IC took control and scored the final six points of the game. IC's Maya Smith hit a step-back three-point basket with 1:41 remaining for the 58-55 advantage. Webb and McKee closed out the game by going three-of-four from the free-throw line that granted the victory. 

For the game, IC had three student-athletes finish in double-figure scoring led by Wightman with 12 points while Bass contributed 11 and Patterson added 10. Webb had a career-best rebounding performance and led the Lady Blues with 15 rebounds while adding eight points. Faust led IC with four assists while Smith collected five steals. 

As a team, IC dominated the second chance points outscoring Grinnell 21-8, due in part by out-rebounding the Pioneers 57-39.

The Lady Blues will conclude this homestand hosting Monmouth College for a rematch decision on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:30PM.