Joplin, MO - A strong team defensive effort and 23 points by Savannah Orgeron led the 12th-seeded Illinois Central College Women's Basketball team (27-8) to a gritty 72-63 win over 11th-seeded North Central Missouri (24-9) in the 7th Place Semifinals of the NJCAA Division-II National Tournament. With the win, the Cougars will now play on the last day of the season, "Championship Saturday" as it's known, where they will battle the 10th-seeded Mid Michigan Lakers (30-5) in the 7th Place Game at 12:00 PM. 

The Cougars got key performances by Larissa Taylor (11 points, 8 rebounds) and Lily Luczkowiak (10 points, 7 rebounds), while Kamryn Heider and Addy Engel each added eight points. Leading the defensive effort was Addi Swadinsky (who held the Pirates' leading scorer in check) along with Taylor (career-high 6 blocks) and Luczkowiak (4 steals, career-high 2 blocks). ICC held North Central Missouri to just 34% shooting on the morning (23-68), while the Cougars shot 44% (23-52). ICC also used a 21-27 effort from the free throw line to get the win. 

"This was a total team effort," coach Karrie Redeker said, "especially on our defenisve end. North Central Missouri really got into the paint in the early going, but we settled in and played better defense after that and Savannah had a lot of big baskets the whole game. Proud of our kids for sticking together and getting the win." 

The Cougars used solid defense and baskets from Taylor and Engel to race out to an 8-2 lead. ICC stayed on the attack as Lauren Maas had a layup (assist Taylor) and Orgeron and Engel each scored for an 18-12 advantage at the 2:28 mark. Orgeron scored inside (assist Taylor) and Heider added two free throws as ICC took a 22-16 lead after one quarter. 

Orgeron opened the second period with a trey from the top of the key (assist Engel) but the Pirates went on a 9-0 run to grab the lead at 27-25, which was one of three separate two-point leads on the game - nothing further. The North Central Missouri lead was short-lived, as Orgeron and Heider hit back-to-back treys for a 31-30 Cougar lead. ICC added a bucket from Taylor, another trey from Heider (assists Maas), and an Orgeron basket to go ahead 39-37 at the half. 

Kaitlin White scored on a drive to the hoop to open the third, and Luczkowiak and Taylor each scored inside for a 45-37 lead. North Central Missouri continued to chip away, but an Engel layup (assist Addi Swadinsky) and a Maas bucket (assist Taylor) along with free throws gave ICC a 55-51 advantage heading into the final frame. 

Luczkowiak had a putback and Swadinsky nailed a three-pointer for a 61-55 lead with just over seven minutes to play. Both teams went scoreless for several possessions until Luczkowiak scored on a post up (assist Engel) for a 65-59 lead. Then the Cougars had three straight turnovers, allowing the Pirates to pull within 65-62 with 2:16 to play. The ICC defense then came through, allowing just one North Central Missouri point the rest of the way, while Orgeron had a score on the block along with free throws to finish off the game.

COUGAR STATISTICS
Savannah Orgeron | 23 points
Larissa Taylor | 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks (career-high), 4 assists (career-high)
Lily Luczkowiak | 10 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 blocks (career-high) 
Addy Engel | 8 points, 3 rebounds
Kamryn Heider | 8 points, 2 rebounds
Addi Swadinsky | 5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals
Lauren Maas | 4 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
Kaitlin White | 3 points, 6 rebounds
Madison Jobe | 2 rebounds

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
2025 NJCAA Seventh Place Game
vs. #10 Mid Michigan Lakers (30-5)
Saturday, March 22nd - 12:00 PM
at Leggett & Platt Athletic Center - Joplin, MO
Watch Live ($) (NJCAA Network)
Listen Live (Free) (Mixlr)
Live Stats (PrestoSports)