(Grayslake, IL) – Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team headed north to take on the College of Lake County in an Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference match-up. The home team Lancers (21-8, 8-5) held the Chiefs (7-21, 2-10) to just 28 percent shooting from the floor on the way to running off with a 76-44 victory. In stark contrast Lake County shot 77 percent in the first quarter and finished the game connecting on 45 percent of their shots from the floor.
Sparked by their full-court pressure defense the Lancers jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead. Waubonsee got on the board when Annika Bielskis made a perfect pass to Angelina Schlinger cutting to the basket for an easy lay-in. But the Chiefs continued to struggle offensively as Lake County built a 15-2 lead with three minutes left in the first quarter. The Lancers also controlled the boards on the way to grabbing a 23-8 lead by the end of the period. The home team kept the pressure on and pushed the tempo in the second quarter as they extended their lead to 34-13 midway through the period. Led by 5'11" center Kennedee Clark's 11 first half points the Lancers headed to the locker room with a 45-19 lead.
Waubonsee played even with the Lancers over the initial five minutes of third quarter, highlighted by a three-pointer by Bielskis and a baseline lay-in by Schlinger. The Lancers called timeout with three minutes to go in the period and came out of the huddle with renewed vigor. Lake County finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a commanding 64-33 lead heading into the final stanza.
Bielskis drilled another triple while Ashleigh Wackerlin scored down low as Waubonsee held its own early in the fourth quarter. However, the Lancers Mariah Smith buried a pair of treys to help the home team take a 74-44 lead with three minutes remaining. The Chiefs failed to score down the stretch as Lake County coasted to the win.
Wackerlin led Waubonsee with 12 points, while Alexis Trousdale grabbed six rebounds and Katie Baker handed out three assists. Bielskis recorded three steals and made a pair of three-point baskets to give her 79 on the season. The sophomore guard is five threes away from the Waubonsee single season mark of 84 set by Sarah Marks during the 2014-15 season. Smith paced Lake County with 22 points, drilling six three-pointers. Mariya Sisco booked a double-double with 14 points and 11 assists, while Clark finished with a double-double of her own with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Waubonsee is on the road again this coming Thursday, February 22, at Moraine Valley Community College in south suburban Palos Hills. The Chiefs return home for their regular season finale on Saturday, February 24, when they host McHenry County College starting at 1:00 p.m.. The men's contest that afternoon is set to begin at 3:00 p.m.