EAST PEORIA, Ill. –The no. 3-seed Parkland College women's basketball team defeated No. 6-seed John Wood CC (7-15) by the final score of 70-56 in the semi-finals of the NJCAA DII Central B District Tournament.
 
With the win, the Cobras (16-3) extend their season and advance to play No. 2-seed Illinois Central College (18-2), on their home floor, on Saturday, April 10, at 2:00 pm. The winner will advance to the NJCAA DII National Tournament. Parkland an ICC met twice during the regular season, with the Cougars coming out on top both times.
 
In the semi-final, John Wood scored the first 12 points and seemed poised for an upset. The Cobras responded with and 18-2 run, taking a four-point lead, 18-14. At the half, the game was still close, at 22-19.
 
In the third quarter, Parkland began to assert itself. A 16-6 run to coming out of the locker room extended the lead to thirteen, and it reached fourteen, at 44-30. In the fourth, the Cobras led by as much as seventeen, at 56-39, though the Blazers cut it to ten, 62-52, with just a few minutes to play.
 
Naomi McDaniel (16 points, 9 rebounds) and Peyton Crowe (16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) led the Parkland offense, while Mady Harper (9 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists) and Claire Wilhour (9 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) combined for another 18 points.
 
Rebounding was fairly balanced, with McDaniel leading the way and Harper adding six. Crowe, Wilhour, and Ariana Booker (4 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists) each had five.
 
The Cobras defense forced 22 turnovers which then led to 23 points on the other end. Parkland hit seven 3-pointers and shot 55% from the field in the second half.