(Sugar Grove, IL) –Waubonsee Community College women's basketball team improved to 6-2 overall with a 91-78 victory over Highland Community College on Thursday evening. The Chiefs overcame some adversity with three starters in foul trouble throughout much of the second half. Waubonsee also overcame being out rebounded by the Cougars 56-44. The other two times thus far this season that the Chiefs did not win the rebounding battle, resulted in their only losses. Coach Jim Williams' squad surmounted those obstacles by placing five players in double figures in scoring, making 10 three-pointers and recording 17 steals as a team.
The Cougars (6-4) won the jump ball, but did not have possession of the ball for long. Janiece Thomas jumped in front of the first pass that was made and raced down the floor for a breakaway lay-up just seconds into the game. However, Highland then proceeded to score the next eight points for an early 8-2 lead. Waubonsee came back to knot the score at 10 on a three-pointer by Maddie Jude with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. With a minute left Brooke Heiman scored on a lay-up to tie the game at 18-all. Jude then hit her third trey of the first quarter to give the Chiefs a 21-20 lead at the end of the quarter.
A steal and quick basket off a Highland in-bounds pass by Delani Kosner, a triple from the left wing and another inside basket by Thomas suddenly gave Waubonsee a 31-22 lead three minutes into the second stanza. The Chiefs took their biggest lead of the half at 35-25 a minute later when Thomas dished the ball off to Kosner for a fast break lay-in. The Cougars continued to push the ball inside, scoring on several short-range baskets to stay within striking range. Waubonsee eventually carried a 41-36 lead into the break.
A three-pointer from the right side by Melia Perry early in the second half helped the Chiefs maintain a five-point advantage at 44-39. A long trey by Thomas at the seven-minute mark put Waubonsee ahead 51-44. Midway through the third quarter the lead reached double figures once more when Jude completed a three-point play to make it 58-48. However, the fouls began to pile up on the Chiefs as the Cougars kept working the ball down low on the block. Courtesy of 10 made free throws Highland chipped away at the deficit and pulled within five points. With two starters on the bench in foul trouble, Waubonsee responded in the final minute of the third quarter. A three-pointer by Elly Kuhn, an offensive rebound and put back basket by Jaylynn Vana and a free throw by Evelyn Martin pushed the lead up to 69-58 heading into the final period.
The Chiefs carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, scoring the first five points of the period for an 11-0 run and their largest lead of the game at 74-58. Highland then responded with an 11-0 run of their own to suddenly pull within five points with six minutes left in regulation. After a Waubonsee timeout, Jude scored on a driving lay-up in traffic to take the momentum back again. The Chiefs extended their lead back up to 11 points a minute later and kept the Cougars at bay over the next three minutes, never letting them get closer than six points the rest of the way. Highlighted by a three-point play by Kosner, Waubonsee pushed its lead back up to double digits in the final two minutes.
The Chiefs once again employed a balanced offensive attack with five players scoring in double figures. Thomas led the way with 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Jude finished with 16 points, while Heiman tallied 13 points and hauled down seven boards. Kosner pitched in with 12 points, eight assists and six steals. Vana booked 11 points, snagged nine rebounds, made five steals, blocked two shots and handed out four assists. Perry nearly made it to double figures as well, finishing with nine points. Martin chipped in with seven points, six boards, three assists and three steals.
The Chiefs are in action again next Wednesday, December 15 when they host Illinois Valley Community College beginning at 5:30 p.m.