CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 7 Parkland College women's basketball team rolled past Spoon River College 96-45 at home on Wednesday, January 24. The Cobras (16-2) (4-0) continued their strong stretch of play versus the Snappers (0-13) (0-4), winning their fifth straight game and improving to 12-0 at home this season. Sophomore guard Abby Shepard led all scorers with 21 points – while forwards Alyssa Cole (16 points, 11 rebounds) and Rylea Johnson (12 points, 12 rebounds) both produced double-doubles in the win.
 
"I saw some really good things on defense, and it's always good when you have six different players in double figures," head coach Jean Demosthenes said after the game. "That just shows that we're sharing the basketball and doing all the right things."
 
The Cobras opened a 7-2 lead in the first three minutes of the game, and the home team led 19-7 at the end of the first quarter. Another strong start to the second quarter put Parkland up 28-9 with 7:15 on the clock, and the Cobras went into halftime with a 48-15 lead, their largest of the first half. Parkland began the third quarter on a 10-0 run, controlling the pace and extending its lead to 78-24 heading into the fourth. The Cobras led by as many as 57 early in the fourth quarter, emptying the bench late in the 96-45 win.
 
Statistical Overview:
Abby Shepard: 21 points
Alyssa Cole: 16 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals
Rylea Johnson: 12 points, 12 rebounds
Siarah Brown: 10 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists
Megan Janson: 11 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists
 
Up next, Parkland travels to No. 20 Lincoln Land Community College on Saturday, January 27, for another conference game. Tip-off against the Loggers (15-3) (2-1) is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.