Wightman Breaks All-Time Single-Season Blocks Record In Win Against Lake Forest

JACKSONVILLE, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball team played in front of their home crowd for the final time this season for Senior Day hosting Lake Forest College for a rematch Midwest Conference decision Saturday in Sherman Gymnasium. The Lady Blues dominated the Foresters in all phases of the game that helped earned a 96-44 victory. With the victory, IC now stands at 14-10 overall and 9-6 in MWC play.

Prior to the decision, the Illinois College women's basketball coaching staff honored seven members of team; student-manager Taylor Moore, Isabella Aguirre, Maya Smith, Sarra Faust, Madison Webb, Kendra Bass, and Ashlyn Wightman as part of the senior class.   

At the 5:02 mark in the second quarter, Ashlyn Wightman broke the all-time single-season blocks record with her 62nd block of the season. Wightman ended the game swatting a total of five shots away that claimed the number one spot in the IC record books. 

The Lady Blues opened the game on a 9-2 run that started by Wightman as Webb added a three-point basket. Followed by the basket by Webb, Bass added four straight points at the free-throw going four-for-four at the line. After each team exchanged baskets to the score 13-9, IC closed out the quarter on a 9-3 run; Wightman scored four points while Webb added three and Gracie Kizer two. IC took the 22-12 lead into the second. 

IC began the second quarter on a 14-0 run that included four made three-point field goals that was started by Faust. Smith followed with back-to-back baskets as Webb added the other three-point basket. Smith ended the run with a short jumper in the paint for the 36-12 advantage. After a basket from Lake Forest, IC countered with a 10-0 run as Wightman and Bass each added four points that made the score 46-14. IC closed out the first half on a 6-0 run as Webb scored five points to the halftime score lead of 52-16.  

The second half started with IC and Lake Forest exchanging baskets to the score 56-20. Shortly later, IC responded with a 6-0 run that started on a basket from Wightman that was followed by baskets from Bass and Faust that increased the lead to 62-20. At the 4:25 mark, IC erupted for a 13-2 run that eventually closed out the quarter to the score 75-28. In the run, Jayln Patterson added six points while Wightman contributed four as McKee added a deep-three point basket.  

IC opened the fourth quarter on a 8-3 run that made the score 83-31. In the run, Bass added six points as Wightman added a turnaround jump shot outside the paint. With 6:46 remaining, the IC coaching staff honored Wightman, Smith, Faust, Webb, and Bass with a standing ovation for their final time checking out of the game on the Bill Merris court.

Following the substitution, IC Shaili Betts scored six consecutive points for the Lady Blues that made the score 89-40. Moments later, first-year Jaelyn Hill record her first points in a IC uniform with a driving layup. In the final minute and a half, IC's Keaton Link and Bianca Adubato scored their first baskets of the season.

For the game, IC had four student-athlete finish in double-figure scoring led by Bass with 21 points as Wightman contributed 20 and a game-high 18 rebounds. Also in double-figure scoring was Webb with 14 while Smith added 10. All 14 active student-athletes received at least seven minutes of action. 

The Lady Blues will close out the regular season with a visit to Knox College on Wednesday, February 14 at 7:30PM in Galesburg, Illinois.