CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 6 Parkland College women's basketball team outlasted a tough Black Hawk College team 73-59 at home on Tuesday, November 21. The Cobras (7-0) never trailed against the Braves (3-4), outscoring the visitors 23-6 off turnovers and holding them to just 29 percent from the field (20-69). Sophomore Alyssa Cole (16 points, 6 rebounds) closed out Black Hawk College at the free throw line, going 12-12 (ties career-high). Freshman Siarah Brown (22 points, 10 rebounds) recorded her first career double-double in the win. Midland College transfer Luka Wouters came off the bench to record a team-high 6 assists in the Cobras' seventh consecutive win to start the season.

"Black Hawk is a tremendous excellent shooting team, and we played them well defensively today," head coach Jean Demosthenes said after the game. "We focused on keeping them under 30% shooting tonight, and we felt our players took the shooters out of the game."

"This break is a much-needed break for our players," Demosthenes added, "I look forward to having them back after the holiday so we can review the tape and work on improvements."

Both offenses started slow on Tuesday night, and the Cobras took an early 8-4 lead in the opening five minutes, leading 14-9 at the end of the first quarter. Parkland pulled away in the second quarter, hitting four three-pointers and shooting 9-18 from the field - taking its largest lead of the game into halftime, 40-26. The Braves closed the deficit to 49-38 when Parkland called timeout with 6:03 to go in the third quarter. The Cobra zone defense frustrated the Braves, kickstarting a 7-1 close to the quarter, and Parkland led 58-42 going into the fourth. Black Hawk cut the lead to 60-49 with 6:55 remaining, but Siarah Brown responded with a three, and Parkland never let it closer than 12 down the stretch, winning 73-59.
 
Statistical Overview:
Siarah Brown: 22 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals
Alyssa Cole: 16 points (12-12 FT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists
Abby Shepard: 16 points, 3 rebounds
Rylea Johnson: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 2 blocks
Luka Wouters: 5 rebounds, 6 assists
 
Up next, the Cobras will host Olney Central College on Wednesday, November 29. Tip-off against the Lady Knights (2-5) is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday.