(Sugar Grove, IL) – Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team fell 77-65 to Bryant & Stratton College from Wisconsin on Tuesday evening in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The Chiefs' Annika Bielskis set a Waubonsee record with eight three-point baskets, but it was not enough. Waubonsee (2-7), missing two starters for much of the game due to injury and illness, committed 23 turnovers while the Bobcats (7-4) connected on 17 of 25 free throws to gradually pull away in the fourth quarter for the win.
The Bobcats scored in the opening minute on a three-pointer from the right corner by Trishena Brown. However, both teams struggled offensively at the outset as Waubonsee went scoreless the first four minutes of the game. Midway through the first quarter Bryant & Stratton led just 5-2. Angelina Schlinger knocked down a trey at the two-minute mark to pull Waubonsee within 7-5. The low scoring period ended with the Bobcats leading 9-5 as the Chiefs shot just 7.7 percent (1 for 13) and Bryant & Stratton only 20 percent (4 for 20) from the field.
The pace and accuracy by both teams began to pick up in the second quarter. A driving lay-in by Brown extended the Bobcats lead to 19-10 four minutes into the period. A triple by Bielskis cut the deficit to 21-13 a minute later. Another long-range basket by Bielskis kept the Chiefs in striking distance at 24-16 with four minutes remaining until halftime. A stellar pass by Schlinger to Brigid Gannon underneath the basket resulted in an easy score to make it a six-point game a short time later. Schlinger then converted a pair of free throws with two minutes to go to get Waubonsee to within four points. In the final minute Ma'Liyah Hodges buried a three-pointer to pull the Chiefs within one before Schlinger connected on a rainbow three with 0:12 left to put Waubonsee in front 26-24 at the break.
Bryant & Stratton started the second half with a 6-0 run to take the lead 30-26. Brown picked up her third foul and Bielskis quickly connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put Waubonsee back in front 36-35 midway through the third period. After a Bobcats' timeout they responded with a quick 7-2 run to regain the lead. Nevaeh Johnson then hit a high arching three-pointer to put the visitors ahead by six points with two minutes remaining in the quarter. Bielskis answered with back-to-back treys to knot the score at 45-all. Bryant & Stratton then closed out the period with a 5-0 run to carry a 50-45 lead into the final quarter.
Bielskis then buried her record-setting eighth three-pointer of the game two minutes into the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 54-50. The sophomore guard from Winnebago eclipsed the Chiefs' mark of seven long-range baskets previously done three times. Brenda Morris nailed seven threes in 1997 versus Joliet Junior College, Sarah Grams equaled that mark in 2015 against Monroe (NY) Community College at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, and Melia Perry duplicated it in 2021 in a game with Illinois Valley Community College.
But four points was the closest the Chiefs would get the rest of the way. The Bobcats answered with two fast break lay-ups to take a 58-50 lead with six minutes left. Two minutes later Brown scored inside to extend the gap to 10 points at 62-52. A moment later Katie Baker drilled a shot from beyond the arc to keep the Chiefs within striking distance. But the Bobcats made 12 foul shots over the final three minutes to seal the victory.
Bielskis finished with a game-high and collegiate career high of 24 points to go along with five rebounds. Schlinger chipped in with 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Hodges contributed nine points, Alexis Trousdale tallied seven points and grabbed seven rebounds, Gannon hauled down six boards, and Baker registered nine assists and made three steals. Brown, who was averaging 20.6 points-per-game and 10 rebounds, ended the game with 20 points and 11 caroms.
Waubonsee hosts Judson University's Junior Varsity this coming Thursday, December 14 at 5:00 p.m. in their final home game of 2023. The Chiefs close out the first half of their season with two road games as they travel to Black Hawk College on Saturday, December 16. Tipoff between the Chiefs and Braves is set for 1:00 p.m. in Moline. Waubonsee is also scheduled to venture north of the Wisconsin border to take on Madison College on Monday, December 18 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Waubonsee will then have an 18-day layoff during the holiday break before hosting South Suburban College on Saturday, January 6. That game is set to start at 1:00 p.m. with the men's contest to follow at 3:00 p.m. (CDT).