Hickory, NC - Hot shooting and a strong defensive effort boosted the #2 seeded Illinois Central College women's basketball team to defeat #10 seeded and Region 24 rival Parkland 79-65 in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA DII National Tournament at Tarlton Complex on Thursday afternoon. The win advances the Cougars (32-3) to the Final Four where they will play #6 seed Kirkwood (29-4) at 5:00 pm CST on Friday. 

Lily Luczkowiak and Addy Engel were steady throughout the game, with Luczkowiak pouring in 25 points (11-15 field goals) and Engel adding 16 points (5-7 FG and 6-10 free throws) and 3 steals. Sophomore Emily Dana was a huge lift off the bench, scoring a career-high 15 points (3-3 from three-point range), Kam Heider had 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists while Maziah Shelton (10 rebounds, 4 points) and Larissa Taylor (7 rebounds, 4 blocks) took care of the dirty work. 

For the game, ICC shot 57% from the field; included in that total was a 6-7 effort from the arc (86%) and a 17-25 showing from the charity stripe. Parkland scored 24 points in the first quarter on 42% shooting, but the Cougars put the clamps on after that, limiting PC to shoot just 34% from the field for the game, including a paltry 4-19 from the field in the pivotal fourth quarter.

"What a gritty effort by all of our kids," coach Karrie Redeker said. "We didn't have the start we wanted and things could have gone south really quickly but Emily provided the spark we needed and got us going back in the right direction. Lily and Addy carried us with big baskets all game along with our supporting cast and then our tough-as-nails defensive effort in the second half was key in helping us get the win. We could not be more excited to be playing in the Final Four."

Engel, Heider, and Luczkowiak had layups to open the game but the Cobras still took an early 18-10 lead. Dana hit her first jumper to bring ICC to within 18-12 but Parkland went on a run for their largest lead of the game at 24-12 with 1:00 minute to play in the opening stanza. PC was looking for more but Dana's trey (assist Engel) kept ICC within striking distance at 24-15 after one.

Engel had two free throws and a basket and then Luczkowiak went to work, scoring twelve points in the quarter as ICC went on a run to go ahead 27-26. Heider's three-pointer (assist Hannah West) and a jumper by Dana gave the Cougars a 36-35 lead at the half.

The lead changed hands early in the third until the Cobras took a 43-40 lead but a steal by Shelton led to an Engel basket. PC scored again but Dana and West answered with back-to-back treys for a 48-45 Cougar lead and Dana splashed in a trey along with a Luczkowiak layup as ICC took a 53-52 lead heading into the fourth. 

The score was tied 53-all when Shelton scooped up a loose ball and scored inside for a basket followed by an Ellie VanMeenen three-pointer and a 58-53 ICC advantage. And that's when the ICC defense tightened, holding the Cobras scoreless for the next five minutes to provide separation for ICC. Luczkowiak, Heider, and Dana all scored with the shot clock winding down as the Cougars took a double-digit lead at 67-55 with 3:05 remaining. Parkland put on their press but the Cougars broke it, leading to Luczkowiak and Engel baskets. The Cougars nailed 5 of 6 free throws to finish out the win. 

LEADERS FOR THE COUGARS
Lily Luczkowiak | 25 pts, 4 reb
Addy Engel | 16 pts, 4 reb, 3 stl
Emily Dana | 15 pts, 3 reb
Kam Heider |10 pts, 5 reb, 4 asts    
Maziah Shelton | 10 pts, 4 pts
Larissa Taylor | 7 reb, 4 blks, 2 pts
I BEAT THE DEAN: Emily Dana & Piper Whiteman

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE COUGARS
NJCAA DII National Tournament Semifinals
Thursday, March 20 at 5:00 pm CST
vs. (6) Kirkwood (29-4)
at Tarlton Gym - Hickory, NC
Livestream is available for purchase at https://www.njcaa.org/network/landing/index
Audio only with Alex Staab (free): https://icc-womens-basketball.mixlr.com/

FRIDAY GAME SCHEDULE - times listed are CST
11:00 am - Moraine Valley vs. Schoolcraft (Consolation Bracket Semifinal)
  1:00 pm - Lansing vs. CCBC Essex (Consolation Bracket Semifinal)
  3:00 pm - (1) Johnson County vs. (4) Pima - (Championship Bracket Semifinal)
  5:00 pm - (2) Illinois Central vs. (6) Kirkwood (Championship Bracket Semifinal)

THURSDAY RESULTS
(1) Johnson County 79, (8) North Iowa Area 77
(4) Pima 88, (12) Union 75
(2) Illinois Central 79, (10) Parkland
(6) Kirkwood 59, (3) Harcum 43