East Peoria, Ill.---The #3 ICC women's basketball team saw their eleven-game win streak stopped at the hands of #8 Lincoln Land on Saturday afternoon by a score of 74-70 in Ramsey Gym.  LLCC was the sharper team from the start as they led the entire game and held on for the win in the closing minutes.  It was the Loggers' first win against ICC since 2009 and dropped the Cougars' record to 16-7 overall, 6-1 in Region 24, and 5-1 in the M-WAC.  Lincoln Land improved to 18-4.

LLCC came out the more aggressive team, taking a 23-15 first quarter advantage.  Peyton Dearing and Kayla Gordon opened the second period with scores and Dearing added a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 29-26 and give ICC momentum.  Another Gordon layup saw ICC down just 31-28 but Lincoln Land closed the half on a 12-3 run to take a 43-31 halftime lead.

LLCC kept their lead at double digits as they kept their foot on the gas on both ends of the floor in the third.  Cierra McNamee and Keijah Gray picked up the play in the paint as they combined for ten points and Dayja Evans added a three-pointer but ICC still trailed 62-48 heading into the final quarter.

The Loggers took their biggest lead at 70-52 with 8:42 left when the Cougars decided to put up a fight.  ICC went on a 12-0 run as McNamee and Derria Edwards scored and Dearing and Kyleigh Block hit back-to-back treys to draw ICC to within 70-64 with 3:19 to play.  LLCC hit a three-pointer, but Edwards answered with one of her own to keep the deficit manageable at 73-68.  The Cougars added a free throw and McNamee a layup to close the gap to 73-70 but ICC could not get the steal or basket they needed and LLCC closed the game out with a free throw for final margin.

Leaders
Peyton Dearing 17 pts (career-high), 3 asts
Cierra McNamee 12 pts, 6 reb
Kayla Gordon 8 pts, 5 reb, 3 chgs taken
Kristyn Mitchell 9 pts, 8 asts
Derria Edwards 8 pts, 4 asts
Courtney Jones 6 asts

Next up:  The Cougars will be back in action on Monday, Feb. 7 in Ramsey Gym as they host #14 Parkland at 5:30 pm.  Live-stream will be available on the ICC Cougars Athletics YouTube.

Other:  The Cougars held their 4th annual "Stronger Together" Cancer Survivor Celebration prior to tip-off, recognizing survivors and then observed National Girls & Women in Sports Day by recognizing six area IESA state qualifying girls' basketball teams:  St. Jude (Peoria), Visitation Catholic (Kewanee), St. Thomas (Peoria Heights), St. Philomena (Peoria), Eureka Middle School, & Washington Middle School.  Hall of Fame Coach Lorene Ramsey addressed the crowd at halftime sharing how women's athletics got started at ICC.