WBB 30a
Rod Shilts

Women's Basketball Nathan DeHaan

No. 12 Cobras Defeat Southwestern Illinois College 63-54

Parkland improves to 9-0

Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 12 ranked Parkland College women's basketball team looked to keep their strong start to the season going against an undefeated Southwestern Illinois College team on Saturday, December 3rd, and the Cobras stepped up to the challenge, defeating the Blue Storm 63-54 at home. Parkland held a slight lead at halftime against Division I SWIC, and the Cobras managed to close the game out largely thanks to freshman Alyssa Cole's 13 second-half points. Parkland College freshman Kasha Ward came off the bench to lead all scorers with 15 points on Saturday, and the Cobras came out on top despite turning the ball over a season-high 26 times. 
 
After the game head coach Laura Litchfield praised her team's physicality, saying, "This SWIC team has great size, they're very physical, and they play hard, so coming out and throwing the first punch with our physicality and being ready defensively was the biggest thing for us." 
 
The Cobras (9-0) led 12-6 early after sophomore Kenzey Decker hit two free throws with 3:09 left in the first quarter, and Parkland went into the break leading the Blue Storm (5-1) 15-12. Freshman Ivie Juarez buried a jumper with 5:53 remaining in the second quarter to give the Cobras their largest lead of the first half, 26-17, but SWIC responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game with 2:30 to go. Sophomore Jennifer Heinberg stopped the Blue Strom run with a three-pointer late, and the Cobras led 29-26 at halftime. In the second half, Parkland quickly got out to a 41-31 lead after back-to-back baskets from freshman Alyssa Cole, and the team led 47-40 at the end of the third quarter. The Cobras started the fourth quarter the same way they did the third: extending their lead. Back-to-back threes from Heinberg and freshman Kasha Ward put Parkland on top 53-40 with 7:45 to go in the game, but SWIC answered with a 9-1 run to cut the deficit down to just five with 4:07 remaining. However, the Blue Storm committed a couple of costly turnovers down the stretch, and the Cobras closed out the game with a comfortable lead in the 63-54 win. 
 
Statistical Overview: 
Kasha Ward: 15 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals 
Alyssa Cole: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks 
Kenzey Decker: 13 points, 4 rebounds 
Shae Bell: 8 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks 
 
Up next, the Cobras will hit the road and face off against South Suburban College in South Holland, Illinois, on Tuesday, December 6th. Tipoff against the Bulldogs (7-2) is scheduled for 5:30 PM on Tuesday. 
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Kenzey Decker

#23 Kenzey Decker

G
5' 6"
Sophomore
Alyssa Cole

#32 Alyssa Cole

F
5' 9"
Freshman
Jennifer Heinberg

#14 Jennifer Heinberg

G
5' 7"
Sophomore
Kasha Ward

#30 Kasha Ward

G
5' 10"
Freshman
Ivie Juarez

#34 Ivie Juarez

F
5' 11"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Kenzey Decker

#23 Kenzey Decker

5' 6"
Sophomore
G
Alyssa Cole

#32 Alyssa Cole

5' 9"
Freshman
F
Jennifer Heinberg

#14 Jennifer Heinberg

5' 7"
Sophomore
G
Kasha Ward

#30 Kasha Ward

5' 10"
Freshman
G
Ivie Juarez

#34 Ivie Juarez

5' 11"
Freshman
F