Moline, Ill---The #5 ICC women's basketball team used a big fourth quarter to hold off Black Hawk College's upset bid on Tuesday night, prevailing 74-59 over the Braves in Moline.  The Cougars entered the fourth period up by only four points but finally found their stride in the final ten minutes to get the win.  Cierra McNamee, playing in her hometown, led the way with 16 points and 7 rebounds, followed by a double-double from Keijah Gray (13 points, 12 rebounds), 13 points from Peyton Dearing, and 10 points from Kayla Gordon. 

McNamee and Gordon combined to get ICC off to an 8-2 advantage before BHC got going to draw to 8-7.  The teams continued to play evenly until a Raquel Frakes basket, Dayja Evans three-pointer, and a Frakes' trey to put ICC up 18-15 after one quarter.  The Cougars increased their lead to 27-20 behind a Gray rebound put-back, runner by Evans, and three-pointer from Kristyn Mitchell, but BHC clawed back to face just a 29-25 halftime deficit.

The Braves started the second half on a 6-0 run to grab their first lead of the game at 31-29 and eventually held the lead at 38-35 with just over 3:00 minutes to play in the third.  The Cougars tightened up the screws on defense, which also helped take pressure off the offense. Gray scored on a feed from Gordon and then had a put-back to tie the score at 40-all.  Dearing nailed a three-pointer from the left wing on an assist by Derria Edwards and then Dearing found Gray for another bucket inside as she could not be denied inside.  Dearing kept the momentum rolling on an old-fashioned three-point play in transition, giving ICC a 45-41 lead heading into the final period.

Dearing opened the quarter with another three-ball (assist Edwards) from the right wing to put ICC up 48-43. Gordon took a big charge on the next possession and then hit a runner on the offensive end, McNamee completed an old-fashioned three-point play, and Gordon got another finish in the paint to put the Cougars up 56-48.  The inside-outside punch of Gray and Dearing struck again, as Gray converted on a three-point play and Dearing hit her third trey of the half to give ICC a 66-50 lead.  The Cougars hung tough on defense and picked up the win,

Next up:  The Cougars, now 5-5 will travel to play #18 (in DI) Moberly Area CC in Moberly, MO on Thursday, December 16 at 5 pm in the Cougars' final contest before Christmas.  Livestream will be available on the Moberly Athletics YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/maccgreyhoundathletics.