Lady Blues CLINCH Spot In MWC Tournament With Huge Road Win Over Knox

GALESBURG, Ill. - The Illinois College women's basketball traveled to Knox College for their regular-season finale Wednesday night. The Lady Blues earned a huge victory over the Prairie Fire by the final score of 91-76 that CLINCHES a spot in the Midwest Conference Tournament hosted by Ripon College on February 23-24 in Ripon, Wisconsin. With the victory, IC will make its third-straight MWC Tournament appearance under Head Coach Jennifer McCormick.  

The rematch decision began with a Lady Blues 8-0 run that started on back-to-back baskets from Kendra Bass. The reigning MWC Performer of the Week in Ashlyn Wightman added four straight points that capped off the run. Following a Knox basket, Wightman started a 8-1 run by scoring the first five straight points as she scored nine consecutive points for IC. The run was capped off with a three-point basket from Anna McKee that gave IC the 16-3 advantage.

Each team exchanged baskets to the score 19-7 with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter. IC closed out the quarter on a 8-3 run as Jayln Patterson added five points while Madison Webb drained a three-point basket that made the score 27-10. 

The Lady Blues opened the second quarter on a 8-0 run that included two three-point field goals from Bass and Gracie Kizer as Patterson added a basket in between. That basket by Kizer generated the largest lead of game for IC at 35-10. The Prairie Fire responded with a 10-4 run that cut the lead down to 19 at 39-20. Wightman increased the lead back to 23 at 43-20 with back-to-back baskets in the paint. Knox closed out the first half on another 10-4 run that generated the halftime score of 47-30 in favor of IC.  

The second half battle started with both team going back-and-forth exchanging baskets to a 15-point IC advantage at 55-40. The Prairie Fire responded with a 5-2 run that cut the lead down to 12 at 57-45 with five minutes left in the quarter. Shortly later, IC countered with a 6-0 run started on a basket from Maya Smith as Wightman added back-to-back baskets that increased the lead back to 63-45. However, Knox closed out the quarter on a 8-2 run that cut the lead down to 12 at 65-53.

The final quarter started with IC and Knox exchanging a pair of free-throws to the score 67-55. IC responded with a 9-4 run as Patterson added seven points in the run which was capped off by a pair of free-throws by Smith that generated the 17 lead of 76-59. The Prairie Fire chipped back in this decision with a 13-4 run that cut the lead down to just eight at 80-72 as Wightman fouled out of the game with 3:50 remaining on the clock.

Nyah Daniels of Knox cut the lead to six at 82-76 with a pair of free-throws. With just over two minutes left in regulation, IC's leading scorer in Bass took over and helped IC close out the game on 9-0 run by scoring seven straight points as McKee added the final basket of game. 

For the game, IC had three student-athletes finish in double-figure scoring led by Wightman with 23 points on just 20 minutes of action. Bass and Patterson each contributed 22 points and two steals. Wightman and Patterson both added another double-double to their collegiate careers as Wightman had 11 and Patterson collected 10. Webb led IC with six assists with adding two steals.

As a team, IC outscored Knox 52-28 with points in the paints while shooting 48 percent from the field for the game.   

With IC having a bye this Saturday, the Lady Blues will find out their opening round opponent following a four-game MWC slate Saturday evening.  

The Lady Blues will have just over a week to prepare before traveling to the MWC Tournament which will be hosted by Ripon College on Februrary 23-24 in Ripon, Wisconsin.