Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 11 Parkland College women's basketball team pulled away late in a big 70-46 victory over No. 9 Lincoln Land Community College on Saturday, February 24. The Cobras (23-3) (11-1) remained on top of the M-WAC Conference standings with the win over the Loggers (23-5) (9-3), avenging Parkland's loss to LLCC earlier in the season. Sophomore Abby Shepard scored a career-high 26 points on her Sophomore Day to lead the Cobras, while forward Alyssa Cole led the team with 15 rebounds in the win.
 
"Our sophomores were in the zone today," head coach Jean Demosthenes said after the game. "They understood that this could be their final home game here at Parkland, and they rallied everybody, made sure we were focused, and everybody followed. Compliments to the sophomores – I am very proud of them."
 
"We came out and did a lot of good things, especially defensively," Demosthenes added. "Holding this team to just 46 points is a compliment to our defense and how the players have really processed what we are trying to teach them day in and day out."
 
The Cobras built an early lead beyond the arc, hitting back-to-back threes to go up 14-11 with 2:21 to go in the first quarter, and the team led 20-13 heading into the second quarter. Parkland extended its lead to 26-13 midway through the second on a fastbreak Lucy Fearday bucket, but Lincoln Land roared back in the closing stages of the first half, cutting the deficit to 28-23 with just under a minute to go. The Cobras closed the half with momentum on their side, leading 34-23 at the break. Parkland stayed hot to open the second half, growing its lead to 50-29 with 4:25 left in the third quarter before Lincoln Land called timeout. The Loggers closed the gap out of the timeout, trimming the deficit to 53-36 going into the fourth quarter, but the Cobras kept their foot on the gas. A run early in the quarter pushed the lead back to 20 points with just over seven on the clock, and Abby Shepard buried a three with 6:08 remaining to put Parkland up 62-39. Sophomore Luka Wouters knocked down a triple to give the Cobras a 70-43 lead with 3:00 to go, their largest of the game, and Parkland picked up the 70-46 win on Sophomore Day.
 
Statistical Overview:
Abby Shepard: 26 points (4-6 3PT), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, 4 blocks
Megan Janson: 15 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists
Siarah Brown: 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists
Alyssa Cole: 4 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists
 
Up next, Parkland travels to East Peoria to take on Illinois Central College on Wednesday, February 28. Tip-off against the Cougars (18-10) (8-4) is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.