Dixon, Ill. -  The #19 Illinois Central College women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 season with a 72-51 victory at DI Sauk Valley on Saturday afternoon.  The Cougars got off to a slow start but a strong second half helped them get the win.

The opening minutes were less than stellar as both teams worked out first-game jitters as the game was tied 5-all at the 3:23 mark.  Naomi Elliott kick-started the offense with assists for an Elena Redgate jumper and Cora DeSutter trey to make the score 15-all after one quarter. 

ICC opened up a 24-18 lead just three minutes into the second quarter as Redgate scored again, Savannah Orgeron nailed a three-pointer and Elliott added a jumper but the Cougars managed only six points the rest of the half, which allowed Sauk to pull to within 30-28 at the break.

Imari McDuffy hit Orgeron for two scores to open the third.  ICC then went on a 10-2 run to open a ten-point lead as Redgate got a block on the defensive end which led to an Addi Swadinsky layup and then Swadinsky found Redgate for a score.  Jhanel Coleman scored inside to put ICC up 44-34 but Sauk again fought back to close their deficit to 47-41 heading into the final stanza. 

Swadinsky sparked the squad to open the fourth with two assists to Elliott and DeSutter, then had a steal and a layup and another assist to DeSutter for a 58-43 advantage.  McDuffy and Orgeron then nailed back-to-back treys to open up a twenty point lead and the Cougars cruised from there.  

Statistical Leaders
Savannah Orgeron | 17 points, 4 rebounds
Cora DeSutter | 14 points, 3 rebounds
Addi Swadinsky | 13 points, 8 rebounds, & "I BEAT THE DEAN" Hustle Award
Naomi Elliott | 11 points, 5 assists, 5 assists
Jhanel Coleman | 11 points, 4 rebounds 

Next up:  ICC will host the Cougar Classic next weekend at Ramsey Gym, with Kirkwood, Danville Area, and Milwaukee Area Tech participating.  A full schedule appears below; all games will be live-streamed on the ICC Athletics YouTube channel.

Friday, Nov. 10
5:30 pm - #2 Kirkwood vs. #21 Danville
7:30 pm - Milwaukee Area Tech vs. #19 Illinois Central

Saturday, Nov. 11
12:00 pm - #21 Danville vs. Milwaukee Area Tech
  2:00 pm - #19 Illinois Central vs. #2 Kirkwood