Port Huron, MI - Despite 25 points from Ellie VanMeenen, the #20 Illinois Central College women's basketball team dropped a 63-57 decision to #8 Harcum (PA) in the championship game at the prestigious Thumbcoast Classic hosted by St. Clair Community College on Saturday. VanMeenen, a sophomore from Morton HIgh School, hit 9 of 15 shots while snagging 4 steals and dishing out 3 assists.

Hannah West added 14 points for the Cougars, now 4-3 on the season. Harcum improved to 6-0.

The two teams battled back and forth in the early going as the two teams felt each other out. A layup and three-pointer by West along with a three-ball by Lexi Meyer helped ICC to trail just 12-11 after one. 

VanMeenen and West combined to score the first eight points of the second to put ICC up 19-16 but the Cougars went on a scoring drought, allowing the Bears to go on an 11-1 run and grab the lead back at 27-20. A VanMeenen layup just before the buzzer drew ICC to within 31-24 at the half.

Early scores by VanMeenen trimmed the Harcum lead to 33-32 at the six-minute mark, but the turnover bug bit the Cougars as they coughed up the ball seven times the rest of the quarter which allowed the Bears to go on a 14-1 run and take a 47-33 lead heading into the fourth period.

The Cougars regrouped and got back on track offensively with a 6-0 run to open the fourth to close the gap to 47-39 courtesy of VanMeenen and West. Meyer and Malorie Harris added layups to draw the Cougars to within 58-53 but Harcum finished out the game with free throws to take the championship.

ICC will travel to #2 Kirkwood on Saturday, Nov. 21 for a 1pm contest.

LEADERS FOR THE COUGARS
Ellie VanMeenen | 24 pts, 4 stls, 3 asts
Hannah West | 14 pts
Lexi Meyer | 9 pts, 8 reb
I BEAT THE DEAN: Ellie VanMeenen

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Sat, Nov. 21 at 1pm
at #2 Kirkwood
Johnson Hall
Cedar Rapids, IA
Livestream: https://kirkwoodeagles.com/live