(Malta, IL) – Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team's offense went cold down the stretch in a frustrating 71-67 loss at Kishwaukee College on Tuesday evening. The Chiefs (4-6) went scoreless over a pivotal five-minute span late in the game to allow the Kougars (4-5) to secure the win. For the game Waubonsee shot just 20 percent (5 for 25) from three-point range and was outscored from the foul line 20-12 as the Kougars shot more that twice as many foul shots as the Chiefs.

Waubonsee got on the board first as Lily Fernandez nailed a three-point shot shortly after the Chiefs won the opening tip. Two minutes into the contest Waubonsee took a 9-3 lead when Angelina Schlinger fed Emily Hurst for a fast break lay-up. Kishwaukee then responded with a 9-0 run to grab a 12-9 advantage midway through the first quarter. The Chiefs regained the lead moments later before a pair of Kishwaukee free throws in the final minute staked the Kougars to a 19-18 lead after one period. Kishwaukee slowly extended their lead as the second quarter progressed, taking a 32-23 lead on a trey by Chian Scott. Waubonsee crept back within 34-30 with three remaining until halftime before Scott nailed another three-pointer a minute later. In the final minute of the half both teams registered a flurry of baskets before they headed to their locker rooms with Kishwaukee leading 41-38.

The Chiefs' Brooke Heiman scored on a short jump shot in the lane to start the second half. But Kishwaukee then reeled off the next seven points to grab a 48-40 lead. Midway through the quarter Hurst scored on a reverse lay-up to get the deficit back down to three points. However, each time the Chiefs got close the Kougars responded, forcing Waubonsee to play catch-up throughout the quarter. A 10-foot, turnaround jumper by Heiman got the Chiefs within two points at 55-53 as they headed into the final stanza. Waubonsee was finally able to pull even in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter when Kaila Schlinger grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up to score inside and tie the game at 55. The frustration then set in for the Chiefs as they had a chance to take the lead, but came up empty on three straight trips down the floor. Scott then made a free throw and a two-point basket to give the Kougars a 58-55 with eight minutes to go. Fernandez answered with a triple from the left corner to knot the score once more a minute later. But Waubonsee was never able to take the lead as Scott scored twice to make it 62-58 in favor of the home team. A long two-point basket by Hurst near the midway point of the quarter got the Chiefs within two points at 64-62.

However, from that point on Waubonsee's shooting went ice cold as the Chiefs failed to score over the next five minutes, missing several open shots. Meanwhile, Kishwaukee also struggled offensively scoring just one point over the next four minutes to give the Chiefs ample opportunities to steal a victory. Scott finally gave the home team some breathing room when she nailed a pair of free throws with 0:36 remaining to push the lead up to 67-62. The sophomore guard from Danville, Illinois then added another free throw and lay-in moments later to all but clinch the game. Waubonsee's Vivian Tapia connected on a long three-pointer with 0:10 left to break the Chiefs' scoring drought. But it was too little and too late for Coach Jim Williams' crew by then.

Heiman booked a double-double to lead Waubonsee, scoring 25 points and hauling down 14 rebounds to go along with making three steals. Hurst also recorded a double-double scoring 11 points, grabbing 10 boards, handing out three assists and registering four steals. Fernandez finished with 11 points and four blocked shots, while Tapia corralled 11 rebounds and Angelina Schlinger dished out nine assists. Scott led all scorers with 30 points, while also snagging 16 rebounds and handing out three assists for the Kougars. Waubonsee is in action again this coming Saturday, December 10 when they travel to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to take on Bryant & Stratton College (8-3). The game is set to begin at 3:30 p.m. (CDT) at Mount Mary University's Bloechl Recreation Center.