East Peoria, IL - A seventy-four point second half boosted the #3 Illinois Central College women's basketball team to a 112-49 victory over Carl Sandburg on Sunday afternoon at Ramsey Gym. The Cougars held a 38-27 halftime lead and then turned up the defensive effort and energy to get the lopsided win.

Six players reached double figures---Kaitlin White (22), Lily Luczkowiak (15), Larissa Taylor (15), Maziah Shelton (14), Hannah West (13), and Kam Heider (11), while Heider (5 assists) and Ellie VanMeenen (4 assists) helped ICC tally a total of 26 assists on the afternoon. Shelton (12 boards) and Taylor (10) posted double-doubles and West (4 steals) and Taylor (4 blocks) anchored on the defensive end. 

ICC raced out to a 20-7 first quarter lead behind seven points from Taylor while six other players added field goals in the opening frame. A trey from White stretched the ICC lead to 32-16 midway through the second period but CSC clawed back to draw to within 38-27 at intermission.

A more spirited Cougar squad hit the court to open the second half, which showed immediately on the defensive end as ICC forced four turnovers. The assists also picked up as Taylor and VanMeenen scored on layups (assists Luczkowiak), VanMeenen had a steal and assist for a Heider score, and Addy Engel nailed a three-pointer (assist Heider) to break the game open at 52-29. All players scored in the quarter as ICC led 68-35 after three.  

The Cougars continued to roll in the fourth behind West's 10 points, White and Shelton's 9 points apiece, and Heider's 7. 

Overall, ICC limited Sandburg to 26% field goal shooting while the hosts shot 54% for the game, including a blistering 74% in the second half (32-43). ICC won the battle of the boards 57-37.

The Cougars will be at St. Louis CC on Monday evening in a 5:30 pm tip-off before heading home for Christmas. 

STATS FOR THE COUGARS
Kaitlin White | 22 points, 5 rebounds, 1 charge taken
Larissa Taylor | 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 blocks
Lily Luczkowiak | 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 assists, 2 blocks
Maziah Shelton | 14 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists
Hannah West | 13 points, 4 steals
Kam Heider | 11 points, 4 assists
Addy Engel | 6 points
Emily Dana | 5 points, 4 rebounds 
Ellie VanMeenen | 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 points
A'Meah Lester | 4 points, 3 assists
Piper Whiteman | 3 points

I BEAT THE DEAN: Kaitlin White

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Monday, Dec. 15 at 5:30
vs. St. Louis CC (STLCC Forrest Park campus)
St. Louis, MO
Audio only with Alex Staab at: https://icc-womens-basketball.mixlr.com/
No live-stream available