Godfrey, Ill.---Defense has been a staple for the #3 ICC women's basketball team recently but it was the offense that stole the show on Saturday afternoon as the Cougars picked up an 89-83 win over Lewis and Clark at River Bend Arena.  ICC shot 11-22 from three point range and placed four players in double figures in Cierra McNamee (18), Kristyn Mitchell (16), Kayla Gordon (13), and Derria Edwards (11).  The Cougars dished out 22 assists to net 31 field goals, led by seven dimes from Edwards to pick up their 11th consecutive win.

ICC took a 21-15 first quarter lead as Edwards and Peyton Dearing hit from downtown and Keijah Gray and Mitchell established scoring in and around the paint.  The Cougars hit five treys in the second period (two by Dayja Evans, and one each from Dearing, Edwards, and Mitchell) along with three baskets from McNamee to take a 45-30 lead with two minutes until the half.  However, the Trailblazers cranked up the intensity to go on a 6-0 run to close to within 45-36 heading into halftime.

L & C pulled to within 50-45 before the Cougars went into overdrive to go on a 24-8 run over the next seven minutes and open up a 21-point lead.  McNamee and Gordon scored on put-backs, Courtney Jones hit a runner and then slipped a nifty pass to Gordon for another score, Dearing and Gordon hit three-pointers, and Mitchell added a jumper to give ICC a 74-53 lead heading into the final frame.

Kyleigh Block hit a three-pointer and T'yana Lovelace and Evans scored in the paint to put ICC up 83-63 with 6:24 remaining. ICC hoped to cruise to the final horn, but Lewis and Clark had other ideas, going on a 20-6 run to close the game for the final margin.

Leaders (only scoring, assists, & charges taken were available):
Cierra McNamee 18 pts
Kristyn Mitchell 16 pts
Kayla Gordon 13 pts, 4 asts
Derria Edwards 11 pts, 7 asts, 1 chg taken
Peyton Dearing 9pts, 2 asts, 2 chgs taken
Dayja Evans 8 pts, 3 asts

Next up:  With the win, the Cougars move to 16-6 overall, 6-0 in Region 24, and 5-0 in the M-WAC.  They will host #17 Parkland on Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 pm in Ramsey Gym; live-stream will be available on the ICC Athletics' YouTube. The men's teams will play at 7:30 pm.