CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 9 ranked Parkland College women’s basketball team never trailed in a 69-53 win over Spoon River College on Wednesday, February 22nd. The Cobras (21-2) (8-1) controlled the glass against the Snappers (10-15) (0-10), outrebounding the visitors 41-25 in their third straight win. Freshman Alyssa Cole led all scorers with 19 points, and sophomore Jennifer Heinberg (12 points) knocked down four three-pointers in the win.
“Our second quarter run gave us the separation we needed to secure the win,” head coach Laura Litchfield said after the game. “It’s not always pretty, but getting the win is always the end goal, and you have to respect Spoon River playing us hard.”
The Cobras held the Snappers scoreless for the first four minutes of the game, opening a 6-0 lead early in the game, and Parkland led 16-13 at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore McHenry County College transfer Jennifer Heinberg hit back-to-back triples to start the second quarter, and the Cobras led 22-13 with 8:15 left in the half before Spoon River took a timeout. Parkland led 30-18 following a three-point play by freshman Alyssa Cole with 4:15 remaining in the second quarter, and the Cobras went into halftime with a 38-22 lead after outrebounding the Snappers 22-10 in the first half. Parkland led 42-27 at the six-minute mark of the third quarter, but a quick Chloe Gould jumper and another Heinberg three put the Cobras up 20 with 5:08 to go in the period. Parkland led by as many as 22, and the team went into the fourth quarter up 54-37. The Snappers cut the deficit to 12 on a layup with 5:38 left, but the Cobras controlled the game at the free throw line, shooting 11-14 from the stripe in the fourth quarter on their way to a 69-53 win.
Statistical Overview:
- Alyssa Cole: 19 points, 11-11 FTs, 7 rebounds, 3 assists
- Jennifer Heinberg: 12 points, 4-6 3PT
- Kenzey Decker: 9 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
- Shae Bell: 8 points, 9 rebounds
- Mallory Cyrulik: 8 points, 4-4 FTs, 5 rebounds
Up next, the Cobras travel to Springfield on Saturday, February 25th, for another conference game at Lincoln Land Community College. Tip-off against the Loggers (18-7) (4-4) is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
