EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Parkland women's basketball pushed No. 1 Illinois Central for much of the first half, but fell to the Cougars, 67-53, on Wednesday night. Dropping to 14-9 on the season, 2-2 in conference, the Cobras were led by 11 points from guards Gemma Rescasens and Crystal Mathis.
 
Leading Parkland on Wednesday were a trio of double-digit scorers for head coach Mike Lindemann. Sparked by big first quarters, Rescasens and Mathis tied for the team lead with 11 points, while Micah Tapscott finished third on the team with 10 points with eight of the 10 coming in the second quarter.
 
After a slow start on Monday night against No. 10 Lincoln Land, Parkland roared out of the gate against the top-ranked team in NJCAA Division I on Wednesday. Paced by nine first-quarter points from Gemma Rescasens, the Cobras led for the majority of the first quarter. Adding to Rescasens nine points, Mathis added six of her own as the backcourt duo combined for 15 of the team's 17 first-quarter points.
 
Taking a seven-point lead into the second quarter, Parkland maintained their lead until a last-second three by Illinois Central at the buzzer. Held to eight points in the second period, sophomore forward Micah Tapscott carried the load with all eight points including her second three-point basket of the season. Leading by as much as 10 points, 22-12, the Cobras saw their nine-point lead with six minutes left evaporate with an 11-0 run by the Cougars to close the first half.
 
Continuing their run, Illinois Central carried the momentum into the second half as they outscored the Cobras by 12 points in the second half. The Cougars made their biggest move out of halftime by scoring 13 of the third quarter's first 17 points. Leading 40-29, the Cougars maintained a double-digit lead over the Cobras.
 
Up next, Parkland wraps up its four games in seven days with a road match-up at Lewis & Clark on Saturday, February 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. central time.