Mattoon, Ill. - The #7 Illinois Central College women's basketball team got off to a hot start against #9 Lake Land but the Lakers turned the tables in the second half to down ICC by a score of 69-55 at the LLC Fieldhouse on Wednesday night in Region 24 & M-WAC action.  ICC hit four three-pointers in the first quarter and had a 28-16 lead but Lake Land found their stride as the Cougars went cold.  ICC is now 11-6 overall, 1-1 in Region 24 & the M-WAC, while Lake Land moved to 15-3, 2-0.

The Cougars moved the ball well in the early going against the Laker zone as Peyton Dearing hit three treys and Naomi Elliott had one to take a 14-8 lead.  Baskets by Cierra McNamee and Halie Gilbert helped the Cougars maintain an 18-12 advantage after the first quarter.  

Miya Webb and Elliott added two more treys along with a McNamee bucket to give ICC their largest lead at 28-16 midway through the quarter but Lake Land closed the half on a 12-2 run as ICC had five turnovers on their final eleven possessions of the half as the score was knotted at 30-all.

The Cougars struggled scoring while Lake Land continued to manufacture points from the free throw line, on drives to the basket and on a three-pointer to take a 47-41 lead heading into the fourth.

Paris Wilson hit a three-pointer on an assist from Cierra McNamee to draw ICC within 47-46 early in the fourth period, but LLC hit three straight three-pointers to open a 56-46 lead and ICC would get no closer. 

STATISTICAL LEADERS - only scoring was kept by Lake Land
Naomi Elliott |13 points
Cierra McNamee | 11 points
Peyton Dearing | 11 points

I BEAT THE DEAN:  Naomi Elliott

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ (RV) Lincoln Land Loggers (12-3, 1-0)
Saturday, January 21st - 1:00 PM
@ Cass Gym - Springfield, Ill. 
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