EAST PEORIA, Ill. –The no. 3-seed Parkland College women's basketball team (17-3) avenged two regular season losses to No. 2-seed Illinois Central College (18-3), upsetting the Cougars on their home floor in the championship game of the NJCAA DII Central B District Tournament. A final score of 59-40 qualifies Parkland to move on and join fifteen other district champions in the Sweet Sixteen at the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. This marks the Cobras' eighth appearance in the national tournament and its fourth appearance in the past eight seasons.
 
The championship contest was close through much of the game, with ICC holding an 8-6 lead after one quarter. In the second, the Cobras led briefly, at 11-10 and 15-14, but, by halftime, the Cougars had regained a five-point, 20-15, lead.
 
Midway through the third, it was again tied, at 24-all, but ICC led again at the end of the period, 33-30.
 
In the fourth quarter, Parkland began to assert its dominance. At the 7:20 mark, the Cobras pulled ahead for good, at 35-34, and then, at 37-36, the Cougars were completely stifled. Parkland scored a crushing fourteen straight points to take a fifteen-point, 51-36, lead with only 2:07 showing on the clock. ICC finally ended the run but could not hold back the Cobras, who eventually won by nineteen.
 
Mady Harper (21 points, 3 rebounds), who scored all of her points in the second half, made all fourteen of her free throw attempts. Bree Trimble (10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists) joined Harper in scoring in double digits, while Ariana Booker (9 points, 2 rebounds) was right behind.
 
Naomi McDaniel (6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block) led the team in rebounds, as Shaelynn Bell (6 points, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks) and Peyton Crowe (5 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals) each chipped in 4 of their own.
 
Parkland's defense held ICC to 15 points below their previous season low, which was also 37 points below its season average. The Cougars, who ranked first, nationally, in field goal percentage and had not shot below 33.7% this season, were held to only 20.0% in this game.
 
The Cobras were 21-of-23 from the free throw line in the second half, shooting an overall 86.2% for the game.
 
Parkland will now turn its attention to the NJCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship, which takes place April 20-24 at the Tarlton Complex at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, N.C. The brackets for the tournament are yet to be determined. Specific game dates and times for Parkland will be announced when they become available.
 
For full championship information, visit: NJCAA DII Women's Basketball Championship