(Sugar Grove, IL) – Coming off a nail-biting one-point win over the College of DuPage, Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team had another closely contested battle with previously unbeaten Joliet Junior College on Tuesday evening. The Chiefs (2-2) hung on to pull out a 59-55 win over the Wolves (3-1) with some timely defense down the stretch.
On the Chiefs' very first possession Katie Baker sank a three-pointer from the left corner as Waubonsee jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead a minute into the game. A high-arching trey by Annika Bielskis two minutes later pushed the lead to 11-3. A desperation three just before the shot clock expired by Grace Harris helped the Eagles knot the score at 11 midway through the first quarter. A driving lay-in by Ma'Liyah Hodges broke the deadlock with three minutes left in the period. A long triple from deep in the right corner in the final minute by Baker closed out the scoring with Waubonsee holding an 18-15 lead after 10 minutes of play.
Waubonsee led by as many as eight points early in the second period. A three by Lilianna Velazquez off a nice feed from Ashleigh Wackerlin extended the Chiefs' lead to 29-18 nearing the midway point of the second stanza. A pair of made free throws by Kaila Schlinger got the lead to a dozen points before Joliet got the deficit back down to single digits with a minute remaining until halftime. A turn around, 15-foot jumper by Angelina Schlinger made the score 33-23 heading into the break.
Both teams misfired multiple times once the third quarter began. Joliet started get the ball inside and cut the deficit down to four points as the Chiefs went scoreless for three minutes of action. Waubonsee eventually got on track again and for the most part the teams traded baskets over the next three minutes of play. Joliet continued to chip away and tied the game at 38 on an inside basket by Kiyah Robertson. Moments later Harris drilled a three to put Joliet in front for the first time all game at 41-40. A pair of free throws in the final minute gave the Chiefs a 42-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
A pair of free throws by Robertson put the Wolves ahead early in the final quarter until Baker scored on a drive to the rim to make it 44-43 with seven minutes remaining. Bielskis and then Velazquez each nailed long shots to put Waubonsee up six points. A long 25-foot triple as the shot clock wound down by Angelina Schlinger from in front of the Chiefs' bench extended the lead to 55-48 with four minutes to go. Again, Joliet chipped away and pulled within two at 55-53 on a put back basket by Robertson with 1:50 left in regulation. After a Wolves' timeout Baker scored on a drive to the rim for a four-point lead. However, Harris scored with a minute left to make it a one possession game once more. The Chiefs then ran the shot clock all the way down before misfiring on a long shot with give the Wolves the ball back with 0:26 remaining. Waubonsee's defense then rose to the occasion as Wackerlin made a huge steal in the left corner with 0:14 to go as Joliet tried to get the ball to Robertson in the post.
With only one team foul up to that point in the fourth period, the Wolves were forced to foul four straight times. Baker was eventually sent to the line with 0:6.9 remaining with a chance to secure the win. However, both foul shots rattled in and out and Robertson snagged the rebound. Joliet immediately called timeout, their last of the game. However, Harris was called for a traveling violation of her ensuing drive to the basket giving Waubonsee the ball back with 0:01.3 ticks to go. After the Chiefs called their final timeout Baker was fouled again and converted both foul shots to clinch the 59-55 win.
The duo of Baker and Angelina Schlinger led Waubonsee to the triumph. Baker paced the Chiefs with 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds in another all-around effort. Schlinger booked 13 points, grabbed nine boards, dished out five assists and made four steals. Her sister Kaila finished with seven points and six boards, while Wackerlin hauled down seven caroms and Bielskis added eight points and secured five rebounds. The Chiefs are in action again this coming Thursday, November 16 when they host Judson University's Junior Varsity beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Erickson Hall Gymnasium.