(Sugar Grove, IL) – Third-seeded Waubonsee Community College led from start to finish on the way to a 93-65 victory over sixth-seeded Kankakee Community College in the first round of the Region IV Division II District L Women's Basketball Tournament. The Chiefs (23-5) started out fast and kept the Cavaliers (10-17) at arm's length until pulling away in the third quarter to advance to the Semi-Finals this coming Saturday, February 26. Waubonsee will play at second-seeded Oakton Community College (21-6) in Des Plaines with the tip-off set for 1:00 p.m. (CDT). The game can be seen 'live' on-line at www.GoChiefs.com The winner of Saturday's contest will advance to the tournament title game set to be played on Saturday, March 5 against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. The location will be at the higher seeded team with the starting time announced at a later date.
Melia Perry sank a 15-foot jumper from the left wing on the Chiefs' first possession to get things rolling. A minute later Janiece Thomas drained a long three-pointer from the right wing as Waubonsee started the game with a 10-run. The Cavaliers got on track after that and trailed only 20-15 at the end of the first quarter.
Thomas began the second period with a pair of short jumpers as Waubonsee gradually built its lead back up. A trey from the left corner midway through the second quarter by Brooke Heiman extended the Chiefs' advantage to 37-27. However, the Cavaliers continued to hang around and trailed by only four points at the break 39-35.
Thomas started the third quarter with a steal and breakaway lay-in as Waubonsee looked to finally put Kankakee in the rear view mirror. An inside basket by Jaylynn Vana off a nice assist from Delani Kosner pushed the lead again to 10 points at 45-35 three minutes into the period. A minute later Thomas drilled a long triple to make it 52-35 and cap off a 13-0 Chiefs' run to begin the second half. A three-pointer from the left corner in the final seconds of the quarter by Lily Fernandez gave Waubonsee its' biggest lead at 65-41 as they headed to the fourth period, outscoring Kankakee 28-10 in the quarter.
A baseline drive and left-handed lay-in by Kosner two minutes into the final period made the score 74-50. A steal and dish off by Heiman to Kosner for an easy basket put the Chiefs in compete control midway through the quarter as Waubonsee took an 80-53 lead. The Chiefs led by as many as 30 points in the final minutes of regulation.
Thomas finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists and three steals as she once again turned in an all-around performance. Heiman was right behind her with 21 points, six boards, seven assists and two steals. Kosner added 13 points to go along with handing out seven assists, snagging seven rebounds and making two steals. Vana chipped in with 12 points, Maddie Jude contributed eight points and Perry hauled down six boards.