(Sugar Grove, IL) – Waubonsee Community College picked up its 20th win of the season on Tuesday evening with a 78-64 victory over McHenry County College. The win enabled the Chiefs (20-5, 9-2) to secure second place in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference (ISCC) women's basketball standings with one game remaining. Morton College, ranked 11th in the latest NJCAA Division II poll, is currently 11-0 in league play and 22-2 overall. Of the Chiefs five losses on the season, four have come to ranked opponents.
Against McHenry, the Scots (12-12, 4-5) nailed a couple of three-point baskets to take an early 6-2 lead in the contest. The Chiefs remained within striking distance throughout the first period and finally tied the game at 12-all on a put back basket by Janiece Thomas with two minutes to go in the quarter. Another triple by the Scots in the final half-minute gave them a 15-12 lead heading into the second quarter.
In the second quarter every time Waubonsee got within a couple of points, the Scots seemed to respond. McHenry eventually took its biggest led at 27-20 four minutes into the period. Again the Chiefs clawed their way back to pull within 27-26 on a fast break lay-in by Delani Kosner. The Scots then proceeded to score the next five points to build their lead back to six points. Moments later the half ended with McHenry leading 32-28.
The trend continued into the third quarter as the teams went back and forth. McHenry went ahead 42-33 four minutes into the stanza before a three-point play by Brooke Heiman, and close in baskets by Kosner and Maddie Jude knotted the score at 42. A long three by Thomas tied the game at 47 with two minutes remaining in the third quarter. A 10-foot jumper from the left side by Heiman put the Chiefs in front for the first time in the game at 49-48 with a minute left in the period. A trey by Jude half a minute later helped Waubonsee take a 54-50 lead into the final quarter.
The Chiefs carried that momentum into the fourth quarter, extending their lead to 58-52 on a driving lay-up by Jude. Waubonsee then turned up the defensive pressure, highlighted by Elly Kuhn taking an offensive charge with six minutes to go. On the ensuing trip down the floor Heiman scored on a driving lay-up to push the lead to 64-56 midway through the final quarter. Not long afterwards Thomas hit another triple and Kosner tallied a basket on a driving lay-up to suddenly put the Chiefs ahead 74-58 with three minutes to go. Waubonsee then maintained a comfortable double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Heiman led the Chiefs with 23 points and eight rebounds. Thomas tallied 20 points, grabbed seven boards and handed out six assists. Jude finished with 13 points, and Kosner chipped in with 11 points, nine boards and seven assists. In addition, Jaylynn Vana hauled down 10 rebounds and made four steals, while Melia Perry contributed nine points.
Coach Williams' Chiefs are in action again this coming Thursday, February 17 when they host Oakton Community College. Tip-off is set for 5:15 p.m. in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. Waubonsee's final regular season game is set for this coming Saturday, February 19. The Chiefs are scheduled to host Triton College beginning at 1:00 p.m. Both games can be seen live-streamed at https://vimeo.com/waubonseeathletics. A listing of upcoming events and athletics information is at www.gochiefs.com