Port Huron, MI - The ICC women's basketball team finished the 2021-22 season on a winning note as they downed Oakland Community College (MI) 83-53 in the 7th place game at the NJCAA DII National Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Port Huron, MI.  It was the second consecutive year the Cougars have been to the National Tournament and 5th time in the last seven seasons as they closed their season with a 27-10 record.  Dayja Evans again had the hot hand for ICC as she scored 17 points (5-10 from three-point range) while Peyton Dearing (13 points, 5 assists), T'yana Lovelace (10 points, 7 rebounds), Cierra McNamee (10 points) also reached double figures.  Kayla Gordon added 8 points and 2 charges taken while KeKe Gray pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds and had 8 points in the win.

The Cougars took control from the start as Gordon scored on the tip-off play on an assist by Kristyn Mitchell.  Courtney Jones scored on a put-back and then Mitchell, McNamee, and Lovelace got the inside game rolling to give ICC a 21-11 first quarter lead.  The Raiders focused on shutting down Cougars' inside attack which opened things up on the perimeter as Kyleigh Block and Dearing connected on treys to put ICC up 27-13.  Jones and McNamee added buckets along with free throws to put the Cougars up 37-24 at the half.

McNamee, Lovelace, and Gray kept at it offensively to open the third while the Cougar defense started to wear down the Raiders and force them into tough shots to take a 52-34 lead at the 2:47 mark.  Evans added a three-pointer (assist Block), Lovelace added four points, and Evans got a reverse put-back as the buzzer sounded to give the Cougars a 62-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Cougars continued to roll as Evans hit three treys (assists Laisha Armendariz-Lopez) along with other scores by McNamee, Dearing, and Gordon and then Evans finished off the game with one more bomb (assist Armendariz-Lopez) to close out the scoring and the season.  Final stats showed the Cougars holding the Raiders to 35% while owning the boards 51-35 and then dishing out 20 assists on the afternoon.

"The kids put an exclamation point on the season with the way we won this game," head coach Karrie Redeker said.  "We showed toughness on the defensive end, had solid play from our bench, and played unselfishly.  We are proud to be one of only four teams who get the privilege of finishing the season with a win and have made memories for a lifetime from this season and this Nationals' experience."  

Statistical Leaders:
Scoring | Dayja Evans (17), Peyton Dearing (13), Cierra McNamee (10), T'yana Lovelace (10)
Field Goals Made | Dayja Evans (6-11)
3-Pointers Made | Dayja Evans (5-10)
Free Throws | Kayla Gordon (4-4)
Rebounds | Keijah Gray (13)
Assists | Peyton Dearing (5)
Steals | Derria Edwards (3)
Blocks | McNamee / Gray (1 each)

Next Up:
2022-2023 Season