MATTOON, Ill. – The No. 2 seed Parkland College women's basketball team fell behind in the second half of its Central District semifinal matchup against No. 4 seed Danville Area Community College, and the Cobras could not climb back into the game, falling to the Jaguars 69-56 on Saturday, March 11th. The Cobras (23-5) swept their two regular-season meetings with the Jaguars (17-9) this year, but the Parkland offense went just 21-55 (38%) from the field, and 1-16 (6%) from three on Saturday, and the team lost their first neutral site game this season. Freshman forward Alyssa Cole (22 points, 6 rebounds) led the Cobras in scoring, and sophomore Shae Bell (15 points, 12 rebounds) posted a double-double in the season-ending loss.

"I am extremely proud of this group and the season that they had," first-year head coach Laura Litchfield said after the game, crediting "The work they put in and trusting the process" for the 23-win season.

"I especially tip my hat to our sophomores," Litchfield finished, "Without their leadership and drive, we would not have been as successful as we were this season."

The Cobras led 11-6 with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter, but the Jaguars closed strong, and the two teams remained tied 15-15 going into the second. Neither team could pull ahead in the second quarter, and a Brooke Runge floater with 5:05 to play gave Parkland a 25-21 lead. Trailing 25-23 with 2:20 until halftime, Danville Area took its first lead at the free throw line before the break, and a Kenzey Decker free throw retied the game, 26-26 at the half. The Jaguars built a 36-30 lead with 6:04 on the clock in the third quarter, and the Cobras trailed by as many as 12 points before heading into the fourth quarter down 46-36. A fastbreak layup with 5:18 remaining gave DACC a 56-42 lead, and Parkland took a timeout trailing 60-44 with 4:12 to play. Sophomore Jennifer Heinberg hit the lone Cobra three-pointer to cut it to 62-54 with 1:23 left, but Parkland never got closer in the 69-56 postseason loss.

Statistical Overview:
Alyssa Cole: 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals
Shae Bell: 15 points, 12 rebounds
Brooke Runge: 6 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Kenzey Decker: 3 points, 3 assists
Chloe Gould: 4 steals