CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Five Cobras scored in double figures as the Parkland women's basketball team defeated Greenville JV, 93-54, on Wednesday night at Donald Dodds Athletic Complex. Sophomore forward Micah Tapscott led the team with 13 points.
Surpassing 90 points for the second straight game, the Cobras' defense suffocated Greenville throughout the game, holding the Panthers to 39.1-percent shooting and forcing 33 turnovers. With the 33 turnovers, the Cobras converted the extra possessions into 29 points. On offense, the Cobras shot 43.8-percent from the field, dished out 26 assists and grabbed 18 offensive rebounds.
Individually, Tapscott made six shots, plus one free throw, to lead the team with 13 points while adding four rebounds. Joining the sophomore in double figures, guards Gemma Rescasens and Crystal Mathis each contributed 11 points, while Olivia Babcock and Madelyn Brower rounded out the five with 10 points each. Rescasens added a team-leading five assists to go along with her 11 points.
After falling behind early, 4-3, Parkland opened up a double-digit lead with a 15-1 run over the course of the final 7:12 of the first quarter. Leading the run was a defensive effort that saw the Cobras hold Greenville without a field goal and force nine turnovers. Igniting the run was four three-point shots, two from Babcock and one from both Mathis and Alexus Cole.
After a short 3-0 run by Greenville to start the second quarter, Parkland again connected from beyond the arc to push the lead back out to double digits with threes from Mathis and Lotte Miller. After the Panthers battled back to within seven points, 28-21, the Cobras went on their second double-digit run of the half, 10-2, started by four straight points from Rescasens.
Coming out of the half, Parkland Greenville traded baskets for most of the third quarter with the Cobras holding a five-point edge overall. Continuing to spread the ball around, Tapscott led third-quarter scorers with five points, while Babcock, Meinert and Madelyn Brouwer each added four.
Starting the fourth quarter with a 20-point, 61-41, advantage, the Cobras proved relentless as the home team nearly doubled its margin of victory in the final period. After continuing to trade baskets with the Panthers through the opening two minutes, a Rescasens three-pointer ignited a 23-7 closing run by the Cobras. An impressive 11 players combined to score Parkland's 32 points in the final period, led by five from Rescasens and four from Tapscott, Russell and CJ Nuckols.
Receiving 42 points off the bench tonight, Parkland's second unit was led by Brower's 10 points and six rebounds, while Cassie Russo contributed seven points, tying her season-high, and a season-best seven rebounds all of which came on the offensive glass. Alexus Cole was second in points off the bench with eight points, including two threes.
The 7-1 Cobras conclude their three-game homestand on Saturday, December 8, when they host Waubonsee at 1 p.m. central time.
