East Peoria, IL - The 14th-ranked Illinois Central College Women's Basketball team (13-4, 4-0) used a big second half and strong bench play to knock off the seventh-ranked Lake Land Lakers (13-4, 3-1) by a 74-63 final score in Region 24 action on Saturday afternoon in the 7th annual Stronger Together Cancer Awareness Game. 

Lily Luczkowiak (18 points, 7 rebounds), Addi Swadinsky (12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists), Addy Engel (12 points, 3 rebounds), and Cora DeSutter (9 points, 9 rebounds) stuffed the stat sheet and go strong support by the Cougar bench who outscored the Laker reserves 27-3 to get the win.

ICC shot 41% from three-point range (9-22 overall, including a 5-11 effort in the pivotal third quarter), while Lake Land went just 1-23 from distance. It was the Cougars' second straight win over an NJCAA Top 10-ranked opponent. 

"This was another strong effort by our entire team," coach Karrie Redeker said. "We didn't have a great first quarter, but continued to battle and hit some big shots in the third to stem the tide. We've challenged our kids to use the extra time they've had over break to get in extra shots, and it was nice to see that pay off in a big game. Just like Wednesday, our 'BENERGY' group (bench + energy = benergy) was huge. They were definitely game-changers." 

Luczkowiak got the Cougars going with seven early points for a 10-all tie, but the Lakers took a 16-10 first quarter lead. Lake Land took their biggest lead of the day at 22-11 early in the second quarter, but two treys by Engel and layups by both Luczkowiak and DeSutter got ICC back within 25-23. A Savannah Orgeron bucket in the paint (assist DeSutter) helped the Cougars to be within a 29-27 deficit at the half. 

The Lakers scored the first four points of the third before Luczkowiak nailed a three-pointer (assist Larissa Taylor), and Swadinsky followed suit with a long-ball to cut the Lake Land advantage to 36-33. A Madison Jobe three-pointer from the left wing (assist Orgeron) followed by a Kamryn Heider trey from the identical spot (assist Swadinsky) for a 43-42 Cougar lead. Orgeron tickled the twine from the top of the key (assist Gracie Heckert) and Engel scored on an old-fashioned three-point play off a set play (assist Khalise Thomas) to put ICC up 51-44 heading into the fourth. 

Lake Land chipped away at the lead despite layups from Swadinsky, Luczkowiak, and Taylor, and trimmed the Cougar lead down to 60-59 with just over four minutes to play. Engel came up with a block on the defensive end and Swadinsky scored on a putback for a 62-59 lead. 

After a Laker score cut their deficit to 62-61, Heider nailed a trey from the top of the key and was fouled to complete the rare four-point play for a 66-61 lead with 1:40 left. The ICC defense got important stops on the defensive end, and Swadinsky found DeSutter on the block for a 68-61 lead, and the Cougars finished out the game with free throws to get the win. 

COUGAR STATISTICS
Lily Luczkowiak | 18 points, 7 rebounds
Addi Swadinsky | 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists
Addy Engel | 12 points, 3 rebounds
Cora DeSutter | 9 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists
Kamryn Heider | 9 points, 3 rebounds
Savannah Orgeron | 6 points, 4 rebounds
Larissa Taylor | 3 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Madison Jobe | 3 points
Lauren Maas | 2 points, 4 rebounds
Gracie Heckert | 2 rebounds, 2 assists

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
@ Danville Area Jaguars (14-5, 3-2)
at Mary Miller Gym - Danville, IL
Monday, January 20th - 12:00 PM
Watch Live (HUDL-VCloud Tech)
Listen Live (Mixlr)