(Sugar Grove, IL.) – Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball team closed out the regular season with a 67-51 loss to Prairie State College on Thursday evening in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The Chiefs (14-15, 4-8) fell behind early and could not quite catch the Pioneers (20-8, 9-3) to drop below the .500 mark for the first time since the second week of the season in mid-November. Prairie State held a 24-9 advantage from three-point range as Waubonsee made just 3 of 21 shots from beyond the arc in the final Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference match-up for both teams.
The Pioneers jumped out to an 10-2 lead highlighted by a pair of three-point baskets. Josie Rader connected of a trey for the Chiefs to help cut into the early deficit. But Prairie State was able to extend its lead to 17-7 midway through the first quarter. A steal and lay-up by Anyae Newson trimmed the Pioneers' lead to 17-11 with two minutes to go in the period. However, a triple from the left corner by Jayvonna Smith put Prairie State in front 22-11 heading into the second quarter. A five-foot, turnaround jumper by Newson got Waubonsee within 27-17 after a couple minutes of play in the second period. Prairie State then gradually put together a 7-0 run to grab a 34-17 lead. Waubonsee finished the first half just 1 for 9 from three-point range as the Pioneers held a 34-20 lead at the break.
Smith drilled a three-pointer to start the second half as the visitors broke it open with a 7-0 run. An offensive rebound and put back bucket by Abi Dietlin momentarily stemmed the tide. A drive and score by Demayiah Gaines helped cut the Pioneers' lead to 15 points midway through the third period. A running fade away jumper by Newson with two minutes remaining in the stanza kept the deficit to 15 points at 45-30. Neither team could score from that point as the score stayed that way heading into the fourth quarter. Newson then connected on a short jump shot and Anne-Marie Godina scored on a drive in traffic to get the Chiefs within 11 points. But the Pioneers responded and built the lead back up to 55-38 midway through the final period. A one-hander off the glass by Re'niya Ford extended the lead to 21 points with three minutes left. Dietlin scored on a nice post move, spinning to her left and laying it in off the backboard as time began to run out for the Chiefs. Savannah FitzSimons buried a three-pointer in the waning second for the final score.
Newson finished with a game-high 20 points to go along with three assists and four steals. FitzSimons booked seven points and grabbed six rebounds, while Godina also tallied seven points. Rader handed out four assists and made three steals, and Dietlin snagged six boards. Ford led the Pioneers with 18 points, followed by Aleah Emers who hit five threes on the way to scoring 17 points, and Smith added 15 points. The Chiefs will find out who and where they play in the first round of the NJCAA Region 4 Tournament when the selection meeting is held this coming Sunday, February 23.
