(Sugar Grove, IL) – Things started out well for Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team in their match-up against Black Hawk College. Then the third quarter started and the Chiefs (3-2) went cold offensively as the Braves (3-3) rallied to grab a 75-69 win on Waubonsee's court. After booking 30 points in the first quarter, the Chiefs were outscored 17-5 in the third period on the way to dropping their second straight game.
Black Hawk jumped in front 6-3 in the opening two minutes before Vivian Tapia drove the lane to score and was fouled, completing a three-point play to pull Waubonsee even. On the Chiefs' next possession Brooke Heiman scored on an 8-foot turn around jump shot from the left wing, and then scored again seconds later on a lay-in for a quick 10-7 Waubonsee lead. A long three-pointer by Heiman with two minutes remaining in the first quarter put the Chiefs in front 21-15. Another big triple, this time by Angelina Schlinger just as the buzzer sounded, ended the fast-paced, high-scoring first quarter with Waubonsee leading 30-23.
The Chiefs then turned to their inside attack in the initial three minutes of the second period as Heiman and Emily Hurst each scored a couple of times from close range. Led by 5'10" forward Khloe Damm the Braves were able to stay within striking distance. Heiman, who entered the contest leading all NJCAA Division II players in scoring with a 26.8 points-per-game average, scored again on a driving lay-up as the Chiefs forged a 42-32 lead. Black Hawk's Me'kiyah Harris then banked in a short jump shot at the buzzer to end the half with Waubonsee holding a 47-41 advantage.
Both teams turned up their intensity on the defensive end of the floor as the third quarter commenced. After three minutes of action only three points had been tallied between the two as Waubonsee led 49-42. A pair of treys by the Braves over the following minute suddenly got them within a point as the Chiefs' offense went cold. The teams traded baskets with the lead changing hands three times over the next minute of play. Fatigue then appeared to set in as Waubonsee's offensive struggles continued, allowing Black Hawk to gradually build a 58-52 lead at the end of the third quarter.
A minute and a half into the final stanza the Braves pushed their lead to 62-52 as Waubonsee tallied just five points over a 12-minute stretch. Heiman finally got the Chiefs on track as she scored twice from close range. However, Black Hawk answered each time, extending their lead up to 70-56 midway through the fourth period. The Chiefs clawed their way back within eight points with 1:22 remaining when Lily Fernandez buried the second of her two three-point baskets. A made free throw by Schlinger and two more by Fernandez pulled the Chiefs to within five points with 0:46 to go. A running one-hander by Schlinger moments later cut the deficit to 73-69 with 0:22 remaining. The Braves then made a pair of free throws to hang on for the road victory.
Heiman finished with 19 points and six rebounds to lead the way for the Chiefs, which had five players reach double figures. Fernandez finished with a dozen points, while Schlinger chipped in with 11 points and three assists. Hurst tallied 10 points, grabbed eight boards and handed out six assists. Kaila Schlinger rounded out the Chiefs' double-digit scorers with 10 points to go along with eight boards. Waubonsee's next game is on Tuesday, November 22 when they travel to Joliet Junior College for a 5:00 p.m. tip-off. Coach Jim Williams' Chiefs return home on Tuesday, November 29 to host Milwaukee Area (WI) Technical College in a 5:00 p.m. contest.