Kankakee, IL - Kaitlin White and Addy Engel combined for 45 points to propel the #18 Illinois Central College women's basketball team to an 83-76 victory over Kankakee in non-region action at the Ryan Activities Center on Thursday evening. White tied a career-high with 24 points (including three treys and a 7-7 effort from the free throw line) and Engel had a career-high 21 points (six field goals and 9-10 from the charity stripe) to help ICC get the win.  

Kamryn Heider also reached double figures with 10 points while Larissa Taylor (8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks), Lily Luczkowiak (6 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) and Addi Swadinsky (5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) filled the stat sheet to move ICC to 7-3.  Kankakee dropped to 1-9 on the season.

The Cougars looked like they would pull away in this one early as White, Engel and Taylor combined for the scores and an 11-5 lead.  Layups by Luczkowiak and Lauren Maas stretched the lead to 18-9 with 2:48 left in the first quarter, but turnovers plagued ICC (10 in the quarter) which allowed the Cavaliers to go on a 10-0 run and take a 19-18 advantage after the first period.

ICC got back on track thanks to a Swadinsky "and-one," White runner, and Engel score for a 30-27 lead.  The Cougars stretched that to 36-27 on a layup by Heider and two Savannah Orgeron baskets but KCC again closed the quarter on a run to draw back to within 40-36 at intermission. 

The Cougars regained control in the third as Engel and White stayed on the attack for a 57-50 lead with 2:23 left in the third.  A Luczkowiak steal and pass ahead to Heider and a White layup gave ICC a 62-53 lead but the Cavs tossed in back-to-back treys to close the quarter to trail just 62-59 heading into the the fourth.

Baskets by Luzkowiak, Taylor, and Heider kept ICC going offensively but Kankakee countered with four straight treys to tie the game at 72-all midway through the quarter.  Kankakee hit a go-ahead basket at 74-72 and after both teams had empty possessions, White drove the lane for a score and was fouled for an old-fashioned three-point play to give ICC a 75-74 lead. 

Luczkowiak had a steal and a layup for a 77-74 advantage for a little breathing room. Taylor had a huge offensive put-back to give ICC a 79-74 lead with :32 seconds.  Engel and White closed the game out with free throws to get the win.   The Cougar defense came through when it was needed the most, holding the Cavs to just four points in the final 6:18.

COUGAR STATISTICS
Kaitlin White | 24 points (ties career-high), 2 steals
Addy Engel | 21 points (career-high), 4 rebounds, 1 assist
Kamryn Heider | 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists
Larissa Taylor | 8 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks
Savannah Orgeron | 7 points, 3 rebounds
Addi Swadinsky | 5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Lauren Maas | 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 points

I BEAT THE DEAN:  Kaitlin White, Addy Engel, Addy Swadinsky 

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ St. Louis Archers (0-12)
Sunday, December 15th - 3PM
at STLCC Forest Park Campus
5420 Oakland Ave - St. Louis, MO
Watch Live ($25)
*No Audio on Mixlr due to STLCC broadcast restrictions*