Danville, Ill. - The #5 Illinois Central College used a total team effort on both ends of the court to defeat Danville Area 81-41 on Wednesday night in Region 24 action. The Cougars picked apart the DACC zone on the offensive end and then played stingy defense while controlling the boards to get the win as all players contributed, including four players who reached double figures in Kam Heider (19 points), Addy Engel (17 points), Maziah Shelton (12 points), and Ellie VanMeenen (11 points).

Engel dished out a game-high 7 assists while Larissa Taylor had 4 assists for the Cougars, who moved to 24-3 overall and 11-2 in Region 24. Danville dropped to 12-15 and 6-6.

The Cougars bolted to a 17-4 lead in the opening minutes behind two old-fashioned three-point plays from Shelton, a Heider trey from the right wing along with another jumper, and a jumper and then a steal and layup from Engel.

ICC held a 24-13 lead after the first quarter and added to that in the second behind Engel and Shelton offensive putbacks and a Heider jumper for a 30-13 advantage. Emily Dana splashed in a three-pointer, Piper Whiteman scored in transition off a nice pass from Heider, and West scored on a nifty drive in the lane and finished off the half with an open jumper (assist Taylor) as ICC held a 44-22 lead.

The third quarter saw the defense continue to dominate which led to scores. Shelton got a defensive board and dribbled coast to coast and hit Taylor on the block for a layup, Engel had two steals for layups and then found Heider for a hoop and some harm for a 64-31 lead after three periods.

VanMeenen, who held the task of guarding DACC's top offensive threat most of the night, used the fourth quarter to generate offense of her own as she hit two treys (assists A'Meah Lester and West) along with a Dana layup (assist Engel) and Shelton score for the final margin. 

UNOFFICIAL LEADERS
Kam Heider | 19 points, 4 rebounds
Addy Engel | 17 points, 7 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Maziah Shelton | 12 points, 6 rebounds
Ellie VanMeenen | 11 points 3 rebounds
Larissa Taylor | 8 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals
I BEAT THE DEAN: Ellie VanMeenen

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
Saturday, Feb. 21
at #9 Lincoln Land at 1pm
Cass Gymnasium
Springfield, IL 
Livestream: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/il/springfield/organization/132943/lincoln-land-communi