East Peoria, Ill. - Ellie VanMeenen's double-double of 17 points and 11 rebounds led the #15 Illinois Central College women's basketball team to an 83-76 victory over Waubonsee in the Cougars' home opener. ICC placed four others in double figures as Andrea Glenn (16 points, 5 rebounds, & 4 assists), Lexi Meyer (14 points, 3 assists), Hannah West (14 points, career-high 8 assists, 7 rebounds), and Michaela Pilgrim (13 points) also contributed to move ICC's record to 2-1.

VanMeenen came out of the gates on fire, scoring 13 of the team's first 15 points. Meyer added two treys (assists West & Pilgrim) to keep ICC ahead but the Chiefs stayed close with their own hot shooting as ICC took a narrow 26-24 first quarter lead.

The Cougars went on a lull to start the second until West scored and a Meyer putback tied the score at 30-all. ICC then went on a run courtesy of a VanMeenen basket, Meyer three-ball and Pilgrim bucket for a 37-30 advantage. Two baskets by Shonti Ayers kept the Cougars rolling but Waubonsee went on a run of their own to trim their deficit to 43-42 at intermission.

Meyer and Pilgrim bagged three-pointers to open the third but WCC stayed close. VanMeenen and Glenn scored inside and West added two freebies as the teams went to the final period with the Cougars narrowly ahead at 59-57.

In the fourth, Glenn scored on a drive and West found Malorie Harris inside for a 67-63 Cougar lead. Glenn continued to make her presence known, adding two more buckets for a 73-69 lead and then ICC iced the game away with free throws (Glenn went 8-8 and Harris 4-6 in the 4th quarter).

LEADERS FOR THE COUGARS
Ellie VanMeenen | 17 pts, 11 reb, 3 stl
Andrea Glenn | 16 pts, 5 reb, 4 asts
Lexi Meyer | 14 pts, 7 reb, 4 stl, 3 ast
Hannah West | 14 pts, 8 asts, 7 reb
Michaela Pilgrim | 13 pts
I BEAT THE DEAN: Ellie VanMeenen, Lexi Meyer

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Sat, Nov. 7 at 1:00 pm
at Carl Sandburg
Galesburg, IL