(Sugar Grove, IL) – Not surprisingly the match-up of two of the top-four women's basketball teams in the NJCAA's Region IV went down to the wire. In a prelude to the potential February Frenzy and March Madness that is forthcoming, Waubonsee Community College (22-5) closed out the regular season with a thrilling 68-65 win over visiting Triton College (22-4). By the time the final horn sounded the score had been tied six times and the lead changed hands nine times throughout the contest. The final lead change came when the Chiefs' Jaylynn Vana scored inside to give her team the lead with half a minute to go. The Sandwich native then sealed the victory with a pair of free throws in the final seconds.
The Chiefs and Trojans, along with Morton College (24-2) and Bryant & Stratton (WI) College (22-3) are the only teams in the Region with 20 or more wins this season. Waubonsee will now learn where, when and who they will play in the upcoming Region IV Division II Tournament after tomorrow's seeding meeting. It is highly likely coach Jim Williams' squad will host a first round game next Wednesday, February 23. When available, that information will be posted at www.GoChiefs.com
The Trojans scored the game's first eight points as Waubonsee struggled to find any rhythm on offense. Brooke Heiman nailed a three-point shot from the left wing three minutes in to get the Chiefs on the board. Janiece Thomas followed with another trey on the ensuing trip down the floor to help get the Chiefs on track. However, Triton kept Waubonsee at bay the rest of the quarter as they grabbed a 17-10 lead after one period.
Each time Waubonsee made a move early in the second quarter, it seemed Triton had an answer. The Chiefs got to within 20-16 on a transition basket by Heiman off an assist from Maddie Jude. However, the Trojans responded with a 14-4 run to take their biggest lead of the game at 34-20 midway through the period. Highlighted by a triple by Melia Perry, Waubonsee then reeled off a 13-1 run to cut the deficit to two at 35-33 heading into the intermission.
The third quarter was a back and forth battle until the Chiefs tied the score at 40 on a pair of technical foul shots by Heiman. A moment later Waubonsee grabbed its first lead of the game as Thomas slashed to the basket for a lay-up in traffic. The Chiefs led 44-40 before Triton went on an 8-0 run to regain the upper hand. An inside basket by Thomas and a reverse lay-in by Delani Kosner in the final seconds of the period tied the game at 48 heading to the fourth.
Waubonsee regained the lead when Thomas fed a speeding Kosner for a lay-up a minute into the final stanza. The teams then exchanged the lead a couple more times before Thomas completed a three-point play to knot the score at 57. Triton went back in front 59-57 midway through the period on a spinning lay-in by Keisy Alvarez. Heiman and Kosner then each scored inside a couple minutes later to give Waubonsee a 62-59 lead. Moments later Thomas nailed a pair of clutch free throws with 1:45 to go to make it a 64-61 Chiefs' lead.
Shortly afterwards Asia Flowers and Monraia Wilson both made a pair of free throws to put Triton ahead 65-64 with 1:18 remaining. The Chiefs then turned the ball over on their ensuing possession giving the Trojans the ball back with 0:53 left.
However, an offensive foul on Flowers gave Waubonsee the ball back just five seconds later. After working the ball around the perimeter, Kosner then made a drive to the basket and dropped the ball off to Vana underneath the basket. Her lay-in gave Waubonsee a 66-65 lead with 0:27 to go. After a Triton timeout, the Trojans set up for the potential game-winning shot. Alvarez drove to the basket in the waning seconds, but her shot in the lane rimmed out and Vana snagged the rebound. She was fouled immediately and then converted both free throws for a three-point Chiefs' lead with 0:01.9 left. Triton was unable to get off a last second shot as Vana intercepted Alvarez' half-court pass to end the game.
As they have throughout much of the season, Thomas and Heiman provided a one-two punch for the Chiefs. They both recorded a double-double to lead the way. Thomas finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists, five steals and two blocks. Heiman tallied 20 points and grabbed 10 boards. Kosner added 10 points, eight assists, four steals and five rebounds. Vana nearly joined the double-double club as she booked nine points and nine rebounds.