Alex Staab

PREVIEW: #3 WBB to host 44th Cougar Holiday Tournament

Regions 4, 8, 11, 12, 16, 24 all represented in another loaded field

12/19/2025 6:00:00 PM

By: Alex Staab

East Peoria, IL - The 2025-26 NJCAA Basketball season has officially hit its holiday break, and that means the third-ranked Illinois Central College Women's Basketball team is gearing up to host its 44th Annual Cougar Holiday Tournament, which will take place inside of Ramsey Gym from its traditional December 28th-30th dates. Below, fans can expect a comprehensive breakdown on each team that is in the field this year, including #2 Kirkwood, #3 Illinois Central, #24 Mid Michigan, (RV) Kankakee, Lake Land, McHenry County, North Central Missouri, and Palm Beach State.

This section will be updated before each day of the holiday tournament!

2025 QUARTERFINAL PAIRINGS (SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28TH)
12:00 PM | #2 Kirkwood (10-0) vs. Palm Beach State (5-9)
2:00 PM | Lake Land (4-6) vs. McHenry County (1-10)
4:00 PM | (RV) Kankakee (10-3) vs. North Central Missouri (10-5)
6:00 PM | #3 Illinois Central (10-1) vs. #24 Mid Michigan (9-2)

FULL 2025 TOURNAMENT BRACKET
CLICK HERE

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT RESULTS
December 28th, 2024 | Quarterfinal Round
#12 Palm Beach State def. #6 Lake Land, 74-56
#1 Kirkwood def. Kankakee, 116-38
(RV) Schoolcraft def. #16 North Central Missouri, 56-47
#17 Illinois Central def. McHenry County, 87-52

December 29th, 2024 | Consolation / Semifinal Round
#6 Lake Land def. Kankakee, 78-63
#16 North Central Missouri def. McHenry County, 93-79
#1 Kirkwood def. #12 Palm Beach State, 71-42
(RV) Schoolcraft def. #17 Illinois Central, 76-73 (2OT)

December 30th, 2024 | Championship Round
7th Place | Kankakee def. McHenry County, 100-75
Consolation Championship | #6 Lake Land def. #16 North Central Missouri, 81-66
3rd Place | #17 Illinois Central def. #12 Palm Beach State, 77-76
Championship | #1 Kirkwood def. (RV) Schoolcraft, 86-38

#2 KIRKWOOD EAGLES | 10 WINS, 0 LOSSES | CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. Palm Beach State (4-7) | Sunday, December 28th | 12:00 PM

HEAD COACH KIM MUHL
Now in his 37th season leading the program, Kim Muhl is one of the most accomplished coaches in the history of women's basketball at any level. He owns a remarkable career record of 1,088 wins against just 173 losses and has averaged 29.4 victories per season during his tenure at Kirkwood. Muhl has been named Region 11 Coach of the Year 23 times and is a member of the NJCAA Hall of Fame, the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Under his guidance, the Eagles have captured nine national championships, setting a benchmark for sustained excellence.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Kirkwood powered through the 2024 Holiday Tournament with a trio of dominant performances. The Eagles opened with a 116-38 quarterfinal win over Kankakee before rolling past Palm Beach State, 71-42, in the semifinals. Kirkwood then closed the tournament with an emphatic 86-38 championship victory over Schoolcraft. Lizzy Puot, Jenna Twedt, and Kaliyah Sain earned all-tournament honors during that run, but none of the three are back in 25-26, as Coach Muhl's squad only returns two players.

RANKED OPPONENTS
Ranked #2 themselves, Kirkwood has been tested early and often against top-tier competition, posting a perfect 4-0 record against ranked or receiving votes opponents. That stretch includes a 65-53 win at #3 ICC on November 8th, a commanding 79-51 victory over #12 Parkland on November 19th, an 85-68 road win at #15 North Iowa Area on December 3rd, and a hard-fought 65-59 overtime win at (RV) Iowa Central on December 10th.

TEAM STATISTICS
Kirkwood's statistical profile reflects its balance and defensive identity. Offensively, the Eagles rank 14th nationally in field goal percentage at 43.4% and 15th in assists per game at 17.6. On the defensive end, they have been among the nation's best, ranking fourth in points allowed per game at just 48.5, second in opponents' field goal percentage at 28.9%, and 10th in opponents' three-point percentage at 20.6%.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
The Eagles' scoring attack is led by Olivia Wren at 13.5 points per game, followed by Aaliyah Riley at 11.0 and Kaci Crum at 8.6. On the glass, Dasia Foster leads the way at 5.5 rebounds per game, with Crum and Riley close behind at 4.9 per contest. Riley also serves as the primary facilitator, averaging 4.5 assists per game, while Bra'Ja Torry contributes 3.7 and Wren adds 2.0. Defensively, Wren leads the team with 2.0 steals per game, followed by Riley at 1.5 and Torry at 1.4. Crum anchors the interior with 0.9 blocks per game, with Amari Ogleton adding 0.7 and Wren contributing 0.5.

#3 ILLINOIS CENTRAL COUGARS | 10 WINS, 1 LOSS | EAST PEORIA, ILLINOIS
The #3-ranked Illinois Central College Cougars closed the pre-tournament portion of their schedule with a 10-1 record, their best pre-Christmas record since the #1-ranked 2018-19 team matched the same numbers, firmly establishing the 2025-26 squad as one of the premier teams in the NJCAA through half a season. ICC has already navigated a demanding early slate, stacking quality wins and building a resume that reflects both consistency and high-level performance heading into tournament play.

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. #24 Mid Michigan Lakers (8-2) | Sunday, December 28th | 6:00 PM

HEAD COACH KARRIE REDEKER
Now in her 13th season at the helm, head coach Karrie Redeker continues to guide the Cougars with a resume that ranks among the nation's best. A 1992 graduate of SIU-Carbondale, Redeker owns a career record of 320-87 in East Peoria (469-131 overall in junior college) and is a two-time IBCA Hall of Famer, earning induction both as a player and as a coach. Her program has remained a national contender year after year, and the 2025-26 team has been no exception.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
The Cougars capped the 2024 Holiday Tournament with a dramatic 77-76 victory over Palm Beach State in the third place game. Prior to that, ICC opened with a 35-point win over McHenry County (87-52) and a semifinal nailbiting loss to (RV) Schoolcraft (73-76; 2OT). Sophomore Lily Luczkowiak and alumnus Savannah Orgeron ('25) were named to the All-Tournament team.

RANKED OPPONENTS
ICC has already faced five ranked opponents this season, emerging with a 4-1 record in those games. The lone loss came on November 8th at home against then-#3 Kirkwood, a 65-53 setback. ICC responded immediately with a strong run at the prestigious Thumbcoast Classic in Port Huron, Michigan, defeating then-#5 Harcum (67-62) and then-#4 Pima (86-68) within 24 hours of each other, capped by a Championship win over then-(RV) Lansing 75-66. The Cougars most recently capped their ranked success with a road victory at then-#18 Kankakee on December 4th, pulling away late for a 74-64 win.

TEAM STATS
Statistically, ICC ranks among the nation's elite across multiple categories. The Cougars average 83.8 points per game, ranking 11th nationally, while shooting an efficient 45.6% from the field, good for fourth in the country. ICC also sits inside the Top 15 nationally in three-point shooting (34.3%), free throw percentage (71.1%), assists per game (18.7), turnovers per game (14.4), blocks per game (4.7), and offensive efficiency (1.068), underscoring a balanced attack that scores efficiently while limiting mistakes.

LEADING SCORERS
ICC features four double-figure scorers, led by defending third-team All-American and MWAC Freshman of the Year Lily Luczkowiak at 17.6 points per game. Kaitlin White follows at 14.7 points per game, while Kamryn Heider (12.2) and Addy Engel (10.3) provide consistent scoring depth, allowing the Cougars to spread the offensive load.

LEADING REBOUNDERS
On the glass, Maziah Shelton paces the Cougars with 9.8 rebounds per game, anchoring ICC inside. Larissa Taylor adds 8.4 rebounds per game, while Luczkowiak (6.1) and Engel (4.7) contribute to a balanced rebounding effort across the lineup.

ASSISTS LEADERS
Kamryn Heider leads the team in play-making, averaging 3.7 assists per game. A'Meah Lester (3.3) and Ellie VanMeenen (2.7) also serve as key distributors, with Addy Engel chipping in 2.4 assists per contest to keep the Cougars' offense moving.

STEALS LEADERS
Defensively, Hannah West tops the team with 1.5 steals per game. Luczkowiak, VanMeenen, and A'Meah Lester are close behind, each averaging 1.4 steals, reflecting ICC's ability to pressure the ball and generate turnovers.

LEADING BLOCKERS
Larissa Taylor leads the Cougars in rim protection, averaging 2.5 blocks per game. Addy Engel (0.7), Luczkowiak (0.6), and VanMeenen (0.4) round out a defensive unit that consistently challenges shots and controls the paint.

#24 MID MICHIGAN LAKERS | 9 WINS, 2 LOSSES | HARRISON, MICHIGAN

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. #3 Illinois Central Cougars (10-1) | Sunday, December 28th | 6:00 PM

HEAD COACH TANNER SMITH
Tanner Smith is in his first season as head coach and has guided the program to a strong (9-2) start. Smith was promoted from within after spending the previous three seasons as an assistant under now-departed head coach Lance Maney. This marks his first stop as a college head coach.

Before joining the college ranks, Smith built an accomplished resume at Meridian Early College High School, where he served as the varsity girls basketball head coach. During his tenure, he posted a 92-41 overall record and led the program to three district championships. In addition to his coaching background, Smith is also a certified college baseball/softball umpire, having officiated at every collegiate level possible.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Did Not Participate

RANKED OPPONENTS
The team has faced several ranked opponents this season, posting a 1-2 record in those matchups. The year opened with a road loss at #7 Schoolcraft on November 22nd, followed by another setback at #10 Lansing on November 25th. The squad responded with a marquee win on December 17th, defeating #21 Jackson by a 79-60 final.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
On the national stage, the team ranks among the top 15 in multiple statistical categories. Defensively, they sit 12th in the country in defensive rebounds per game at 31.4. Offensively, they ranked 14th nationally in assists per game (17.9), while also placing 13th in blocks per game at 4.4.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Offensively, Delaney Seaman (11.6 ppg), Gracie Mellinger (11.5 ppg), and Alexus Dunn (11.1 ppg) lead a balanced scoring attack. On the glass, Madison Smith anchors the team with 9.4 rebounds per game, followed by Abigail Lautzenheiser (8.8 rpg) and Katie Phillips (4.6 rpg). Seaman also paces the squad in assists at 3.8 per game, with Lautzenheiser (2.3 apg) and Phillips (2.0 apg) rounding out the top distributors.

Defensively, Seaman leads the way in steals at 2.0 per game, closely followed by Grace Chinavare and Madison Smith at 1.9 apiece. Smith is also the team's top rim protector, averaging 2.8 blocks per game, with Wren Nelson (1.5 bpg) and Lautzenheiser (0.7 bpg) providing additional presence in the paint.

(RV) KANKAKEE CAVALIERS | 10 WINS, 3 LOSSES | KANKAKEE, ILLINOIS

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. North Central Missouri Pirates (10-5) | Sunday, December 28th | 4:00 PM

HEAD COACH CASEY MEISTER
Casey Meister is in her fifth season leading the program and owns a 66-70 overall record as head coach. Before her promotion, Meister spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Kankakee under Donnie Denson, gaining extensive experience within the program before taking over the head role.

Meister brings a strong playing background to the sidelines. Her collegiate career included stops at Kankakee, Chicago State, and Olivet Nazarene, following her high school career at Reed-Custer. During her time at Kankakee, she surpassed the 1,000-point scoring milestone.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Kankakee opened play with a quarterfinal loss to Kirkwood. The Cavaliers then fell to Lake Land in the consolation semifinal before closing the week with a decisive 100-75 victory over McHenry County in the seventh-place game.

RANKED OPPONENTS
The Cavaliers have tested themselves against ranked competition throughout the season. Kankakee earned a notable road win at #18 Kansas City Kansas on November 15th, defeating the Blue Devils 74-65. The Cavaliers also faced #3 Illinois Central and #25 Lake County in back-to-back home games in early December, dropping close games in both matchups.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
Statistically, Kankakee ranks among the nation's top 15 in several key categories. The Cavaliers are 15th nationally in field goal percentage at 43.0% and 13th in three-point shooting at 31.9%. Ball movement has been a strength as well, with Kankakee ranking 12th in assists per game (18.1), while defensive pressure has fueled a 10th-place national ranking in steals per game at 16.1.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Offensively, Alana Ross leads the team at 13.1 points per game, followed closely by Adriana Barber (12.5 ppg) and Alyssa Ross (12.0 ppg). Ava Simpson anchors the rebounding effort with 10.8 boards per game, while TaLeah Turner (6.3 rpg) and Barber (4.8 rpg) provide additional support on the glass.

Barber also directs the offense with a team-high 3.8 assists per game, with Alana Ross (2.8 apg) and Khalise Thomas (2.7 apg) rounding out the top distributors. Defensively, Alana Ross and Barger share the team lead in steals at 2.7 per game, followed by Turner at 2.2. Alyssa Ross leads the Cavaliers in blocks at 1.5 per game, with Simpson (1.0 bpg) and Turner (0.4 bpg) adding rim protection.

McHENRY COUNTY SCOTS | 1 WIN, 10 LOSSES | CRYSTAL LAKE, ILLINOIS

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. Lake Land Lakers (4-6) | Sunday, December 28th | 2:00 PM

HEAD COACH KENT JONES
Kent Jones is in his second season as head coach and has compiled a 12-30 record during his tenure. Before moving into the college ranks, Jones built his coaching resume at the prep level, with stops at Woodstock North, McHenry High School, and Marion Central.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
The Scots faced a challenging draw, opening play with a quarterfinal loss to Illinois Central, followed by a setback to North Central Missouri in the consolation semifinal. The tournament concluded with a loss to Kankakee in the seventh-place game.

RANKED OPPONENTS
In their lone game against ranked opposition, the Scots faced #17 Rock Valley on November 11th in Rockford, falling by an 81-60 final.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
Not Applicable

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Bella Frohling leads the team offensively at 16.0 points per game, with Ari Corrado (10.6 ppg) and Mikayla Saas (7.5 ppg) providing additional scoring support. Frohling also tops the rebounding charts at 9.4 boards per game, followed by Saas (6.7 rpg) and Kamya Mooney (6.3 rpg).

Corrado directs the offense with a team-high 2.3 assists per game, while Lyndsay Regnier and Frohling each average 1.5 assists per game. Defensively, Corrado leads the team in steals at 1.8 per game, with Saas and Cassidy Serpe both averaging 0.8 steals. Serpe also leads the team in blocks at 0.8 per game, followed by Allison Bonin (0.6 bpg) and Frohling (0.6 bpg).

NORTH CENTRAL MISSOURI PIRATES | 10 WINS, 5 LOSSES | TRENTON, MISSOURI

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. (RV) Kankakee Cavaliers (10-3) | Sunday, December 28th | 4:00 PM

HEAD COACH JOE McKINSTRY
Joe McKinstry is in his first season as head coach and has guided the program to a 10-5 record. He brings extensive experience at the NJCAA level, most notably from his time at Kansas City Kansas from 2016-21, where he compiled a remarkable 151-42 record with the Blue Devils. During that stretch, McKinstry led KCKCC to two NJCAA National Championships. The 2016 title came with a championship game victory over Illinois Central, while the 2019 championship run came during ICC's reign as the nation's top-ranked team.

In addition to his success at Kansas City Kansas, McKinstry also was an assistant coach at another Region 6 power in Johnson County. His coaching background is complemented by his own playing career, which included time on the men's basketball team at William Penn. Between his stints at Kansas City Kansas and his current position, McKinstry also had the unique opportunity to be the Head Women's Basketball Coach at his alma mater of William Penn.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
The Pirates opened play with a narrow quarterfinal loss to Schoolcraft. They rebounded in the consolation semifinal with a 93-79 victory over McHenry County before falling to Lake Land in the consolation championship game.

RANKED OPPONENTS
McKinstry's squad has been tested against ranked opponents throughout the season. The team suffered losses to #2 Kirkwood and #13 Des Moines Area in early November, followed by another setback at top-ranked Johnson County. Additional losses came against #16 Allen County (x2). The highlight against ranked opponents came on December 18th, when the team knocked off #17 Rock Valley by a 71-68 score at Palm Beach State.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
At the national level, the team ranks among the top 15 in free throw volume, sitting fifth in the country in total free throws made and attempted. The group has converted 224-of-359 attempts, equating out to 62.4%.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Liz Oliver leads the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game, with Honor Mannings close behind at 12.2, while Addilyn Henke adds 9.0 points per game. Oliver also paces the squad on the glass at 7.9 rebounds per game, followed by Tailer Morrison (5.1 rpg) and Mannings (4.9 rpg).

In the backcourt, Keylie Beane leads the team in assists at 3.1 per game, with A'nyah Ivory (2.3 apg) and Henke (2.0 apg) also contributing as facilitators. Defensively, Mannings leads the team in steals at 2.2 per game, followed by Henke (1.6 spg) and Oliver (1.4 spg). Beane team's top shot blocker at 0.3 blocks per game, with Oliver and Sidney Aeschliman each averaging 0.2 blocks per game.

PALM BEACH STATE PANTHERS | 5 WINS, 9 LOSSES | LAKE WORTH BEACH, FLORIDA

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. #2 Kirkwood Eagles (10-0) | Sunday, December 28th | 12:00 PM

HEAD COACH MAUREEN SMITH
Maureen Smith is in her ninth season as head coach and has compiled a 121-108 overall record. A familiar name locally, Smith previously served as an assistant coach at Bradley University from 1997-1999. Her collegiate coaching resume also includes head coaching experience at East Stroudsburg University.

Smith's basketball background extends well beyond the sidelines. As a player, she began her collegiate career at Broward Community College before transferring to NCAA Division I Florida International University. During her senior season at FIU, the Panthers earned a WNIT appearance. Academically, Smith holds three degrees: one from Broward, one from FIU, and one from East Stroudsburg.

Before joining Palm Beach State, Smith gained additional experience as the varsity assistant girls basketball coach at University High School in Florida and as an assistant golf coach at Seminole State.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Palm Beach State opened the 2024 tournament with a convincing quarterfinal victory over Lake Land. The Panthers advanced to the semifinals before falling to Kirkwood, then closed the week with a tight loss in the third place game to Illinois Central.

RANKED OPPONENTS
Smith's team has been tested against multiple ranked opponents so far. The Panthers dropped a pair of close games to #18 Kansas City Kansas and #9 CCBC Essex, while also suffering losses to #6 Harcum and #10 Lansing.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
Not Applicable

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Janiah Suprius headlines the individual performances, averaging 26.8 points per game to rank second nationally in scoring. She also leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 per game and assists at 5.6 per game, making her a focal point on both ends of the floor. Adrianna Skraban (8.0 ppg) and Macey Kovach (7.6 ppg) round out the top scorers, while Destiny Nguyen (6.4 rpg) and Skraban (5.5 rpg) provide support on the glass.

Suprius also leads the Panthers in steals at 2.3 per game, followed by Nguyen (2.0 spg) and Skraban (1.1 spg). In the paint, Iasiah Surprius averages a team-high 0.5 blocks per game, with Nguyen (0.4 bpg) and Janiah Suprius (0.4 bpg) adding rim protection.

LAKE LAND LAKERS | 4 WINS, 6 LOSSES | MATTOON, ILLINOIS

FIRST ROUND MATCHUP | vs. McHenry County (1-10) | Sunday, December 28th | 2:00 PM

HEAD COACH DAVE JOHNSON
Dave Johnson is in his 28th season with the Lake Land program. Johnson guided the Lakers to the NJCAA National Championship in 2021, a historic season that saw the Final Four invaded by Region 24, with the field also featuring Parkland and Illinois Central. He is also a Hall of Fame Coach, having been inducted into the IBCA Hall of Fame in 2022.

Beyond the court, Johnson has been a faculty member at Lake Land College, teaching in the Social Science and Education division. His coaching background includes experience at the junior high and high school levels within Bloomington's District 87, as well as time spent as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan. Johnson's roots in Region 24 run deep, as he also began in studious college years at fellow Region 24 member Danville Area.

As an athlete, Johnson was impressively a four-sport athlete at Rossville-Alvin High School, lettering in basketball, football, baseball, and track. By the end of his high school career, he had accumulated an impressive 14 varsity letters.

2024 HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
Lake Land started out last year with a quarterfinal loss to Palm Beach State. The Lakers responded with a pair of victories in the consolation bracket, defeating Kankakee in the consolation semifinal before closing their time in East Peoria with an 81-66 win over North Central Missouri in the consolation championship.

RANKED OPPONENTS
The Lakers have faced a challenging slate of ranked opponents throughout the season. Lake Land earned a notable win over #18 Kansas City Kansas on November 1st at Palm Beach State. Additional match-ups included losses to #10 Lansing and #21 Jackson, along with a road loss at #11 Mesa in mid-December. They, of course, will also face the brutal Region 24 schedule, which features #3 Illinois Central, #4 Lincoln Land, and #12 Parkland, among others.

TOP 15 IN THE NATION - TEAM STATS
Defensively disciplined, Lake Land ranks 11th nationally in fewest fouls per game, averaging just 8.7 fouls per game.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Josie Armstrong leads the Lakers offensively at 15.5 points per game, with Miah Ballard (10.3 ppg) and Casey Jackson (9.0 ppg) providing additional scoring depth. On the glass, Haylee Campbell tops the team with 8.0 rebounds per game, followed by Armstrong (6.8 rpg) and Jackson (5.8 rpg).

Ballard directs the offense with a team-high 3.8 assists per game, while Armstrong (3.3 apg) and Jackson (2.3 apg) also contribute as facilitators. Defensively, Armstrong leads the team in steals at 2.0 per game, with Natalie Brownback and Jackson each averaging 1.5 steals. Emily Miller is the lone shot blocker thus far, and she averages 0.3 blocks per game.

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