EAST PEORIA, Ill. – The No. 13 ranked Parkland College women’s basketball team battled back from a seven-point, first-half deficit on the road to win, 62-60, at No. 9 Illinois Central College on Wednesday, February 1st. The win marks the Cobras’ first against a ranked opponent this season and Parkland’s eighth in a row. Sophomore Shae Bell (14 points, 13 rebounds) recorded her eighth double-double of the season and freshman Alyssa Cole (21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) scored seven of the Cobras’ last nine points, leading them to a 5-0 start in M-WAC play.
The Cobras (18-1) (5-0) held a small lead in the first quarter, ending the period ahead 13-12, but an 8-0 Cougars (14-7) (3-2) run to open the second gave ICC a 20-13 lead with 6:54 to go in the half. Parkland trimmed the deficit to 23-20 with 2:18 remaining, but ICC closed the half strong, and the Cobras trailed 28-22 at the break. In the second half, Parkland quickly retook a 31-30 lead on a Shae Bell basket with 6:08 left in the third quarter. From then on, neither team trailed by more than three in a conference rivalry that featured 13 ties and 13 lead changes. The Cougars hit three free throws in the final seconds of the third quarter, taking a 45-43 lead into the fourth, but Alyssa Cole put the Cobras back ahead, 49-48, with 7:42 to go in the game. ICC again retook the lead before freshman Abby Shepard buried a three to tie the game 52-52 with 6:30 remaining. Sophomore Shae Bell made one of two free throws with 3:08 left to give Parkland a 57-56 lead, and the Cobras held on to it for the rest of the game. Both teams struggled at the free throw line in the final minute of the game, but the Cobras got a stop when they needed it and defeated the Cougars 62-60 in a back-and-forth conference showdown.
Statistical Overview:
- Alyssa Cole: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
- Shae Bell: 14 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks
- Kenzey Decker: 11 points, 3 assists
- Mallory Cyrulik: 7 rebounds, 3 blocks
Up next, the Cobras will face back-to-back ranked opponents, welcoming No. 8 Lake Land College to Champaign on Saturday, February 4th, on Hall of Fame Induction Day. Tip-off against the Lakers (17-5) (4-1) is scheduled for 1:00 PM in Champaign, and the induction of the Parkland College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 will take place after the game.
