East Peoria, Ill.---For the past thirty years in the NJCAA women's basketball world, an ICC vs. Kirkwood matchup usually resembles a heavyweight fight. The battle for the 40th annual Cougar Holiday Tournament title was no different as the #5 Cougars endured a hard-fought 71-67 win in overtime over the #1 ranked and previously unbeaten Eagles on Thursday afternoon in Ramsey Gym.  Like other games in the fierce rivalry, this contest featured floor burns, charges, hard screens, worn-out players but in the end, it was the three-point shooting that was the difference.  

After watching Kirkwood go 15-28 from three-point range in a big win on Wednesday night over Bryant & Stratton, the Cougars worked hard to defend Kirkwood's perimeter shooting, limiting the guests to just 3-17 shooting from long-distance on the day.  Meanwhile, ICC picked a good time to hit on a season-high 10-24 from long-range (with seven different players hitting from downtown) to capture their third consecutive Cougar Holiday Tourney title in the last four years (no tourney was played in 2020).  The win also avenged a 64-60 November loss to the top-ranked Eagles (13-1).

Kirkwood took an early 9-4 lead and held a 19-13 advantage after the first period, with nearly half of their points coming from the charity stripe.  The Cougars started playing with more defensive discipline in the second quarter and found their shooting touch as Kayla Gordon, Derria Edwards, and Kyleigh Block all connected on three-pointers to draw ICC to within 28-26. 

After Courtney Jones took a charge with just under two minutes in the half, Block had a put-back for a score, Laisha Armendariz-Lopez nailed a three, and Gordon weaved the length of the court to hit a runner just before the first half buzzer sounded, giving the Cougars a 33-32 lead heading into intermission.

The third quarter was a defensive battle, with neither team finding an offensive flow.  A Jones' jumper and Mitchell trey gave ICC a 38-33 lead, but Kirkwood answered to trail just 38-36.  Gordon and T'yana Lovelace scored on offensive rebounds to put ICC up 42-36, but the Eagles went on a 6-0 run to tie at 42-all before a Cierra McNamee three-ball put the Cougars ahead 45-42 heading into the fourth period.

ICC took their biggest lead of the night at 52-44 lead midway through the quarter on Mitchell free throws and Lovelace and Edwards ' baskets, but Kirkwood went on a 10-2 run to knot the score at 54-all.  McNamee hit a jumper to put ICC up 56-54 and then ICC added a free throw on the next possession to take a 57-54 lead, but Kirkwood responded with a basket to trail just 57-56.  Edwards hit two free throws to give ICC a 59-56 lead and despite solid Cougar defense on the last possession, Kirkwood hit a game-tying three-pointer with 8.2 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Mitchell started the OT with a basket inside but Kirkwood answered to tie the score at 61-all.  The Cougars ran a set play and got Peyton Dearing an open three that she cashed in, giving ICC a 64-61 lead.  KCC hit two free throws to pull to within 64-63 and both defenses held steady until Edwards was fouled on a drive to the hoop with just under a minute to play.  Her two freebies put ICC up 66-63 and then she promptly took a charge on the next possession to help keep Kirkwood at bay. Edwards then hit a three-pointer to give ICC a 69-63 lead with :25 seconds to play to nearly seal it.  Kirkwood scored, Mitchell hit two free throws, and Kirkwood hit another basket as time expired for the final margin and the tourney crown.

Leaders
Kristyn Mitchell 17 pts (tied a career high)
Derria Edwards 15 pts, 5 asts, 4 reb, 1 chg taken
Kayla Gordon 10 pts, 8 reb, 3 asts
Kyleigh Block 8 pts
Cierra McNamee 7 reb, 5 pts
Courtney Jones 6 pts, 2 chgs taken

Thursday's final results:
#5 ICC 71, #1 Kirkwood 67 - championship
Rend Lake 106, #10 Bryant & Stratton 78 - 3rd place
Black Hawk 98, McHenry County 72 - 5th place 
#7 Lake Land 63, Palm Beach State 53

All-Tournament Team
Cierra McNamee, ICC
Kayla Gordon, ICC
Ashley Tull, Kirkwood
Kortney Drake, Kirkwood
Dais'Ja Trotter, Rend Lake
La'Janique Perry-Ellis, Bryant & Stratton
Megan Teal, Black Hawk
Andrea Torres, Palm Beach State

Next up: The Cougars, now 8-6, are slated to play next at South Suburban in South Holland on Thursday, January 6 at 5pm.  Live-stream information will be forthcoming.