Cougars Women’s Basketball pulls away late in win over John Wood
Quincy, IL – The ICC Cougars (13-5) were looking to get back to their winning ways Saturday afternoon in Quincy, as they took on Region 24 rivals John Wood (4-11). ICC was coming off a 2-game losing streak headed into this one.
The first quarter favored ICC, but not by much. The quarter saw Krystal Walker score seven of her nine points on the game, coming of two shots from the field and a 3-pointer. Jasmine Levy got off to a good start in the first as well, scoring four of her team-high 11 in the frame. John Wood couldn’t really get the offense flowing out of the gate, totaling only seven first quarter points. After 10 minutes, ICC held a 15-7 lead over the hosts.
The second quarter saw a rejuvenated John Wood offense, while the ICC offense pretty much remained where it was in the first. Bailey Larsen, ICC’s leading 3-point shooter prior to Saturday’s game, hit two threes in the quarter, to go along with a 2-pointer to tally her eight points on the day. Levy and Isreal Evans (2 points each) also reached the second quarter scoring column for the Cougars. At the half, the Cougars were shooting 12-29 from the field, and had turned the ball over 10 times. However, 19 rebounds were pulled in by the Cougars, and the visitors would hold a 29-21 halftime lead over the Trailblazers.
Out of the halftime locker room, ICC’s offense had likely their coldest shooting in the third quarter, scoring just single digits in those ten minutes of the third quarter. John Wood would inch closer and closer in the third, using a scoring output from four different players to pull the hosts within 4 of ICC with just one quarter to go, 36-32.
The fourth quarter was when the Cougars truly began to pull away from John Wood. Six different ICC players scored in the final ten minutes, led by four fourth quarter points from Kellyn Maynard. By game’s end, the Cougars would erase the two-game losing streak, defeating John Wood, 50-38.
After the game, Cougars Head Coach Karrie Redeker thought it was one main thing that led to the score spreading out in the closing minutes.
“I think our team defense got better.”
Jasmine Levy led the Cougars with 11 points. Levy has had multiple games in double figures since making her 17-18 season debut back in the ICC Holiday Tournament. Coach Redeker had a lot of praise for the sophomore from Maywood, Illinois.
“She was aggressive. I thought she took her opportunities when they were there. She didn’t try to do too much. She did a good job of playing hard, while also playing within herself.”
Redeker likes where her team is, now having grabbed a win off of losses to Moberly Area and Lewis & Clark.
“Winning is fun. We talk about that all the time with our kids. I thought our staff was more positive with them. We try not to dwell on the mistakes. Playing the next play was more important.”
The Cougars will return home for their next game. That game is Wednesday, January 17th, at 6:00 pm, against South Suburban.