PEORIA, Ill. – The Illinois Central Cougar Holiday Tournament has a loaded field again this season.
The annual eight-team tournament, which begins Friday, includes three teams ranked in the top 11 in the latest NJCAA Division II women’s poll, including No. 3 NIACC.
Other teams ranked in the top 11 are host No. 4 Illinois Central and No. 11 Kirkwood.
NIACC (8-2) plays Bryant & Stratton (Wisconsin) (10-5) at 4 p.m. Friday in its tournament opener. The Lady Trojans topped Bryant & Stratton 117-95 on Nov. 25 at the NIACC Thanksgiving Challenge.
The Lady Trojans also own a 95-89 overtime victory over Illinois Central at the Konigsmark Klassic on Nov. 2.
NIACC was last in action on Dec. 8 when the Lady Trojans opened ICCAC play with a 113-92 victory at Southwestern.
RECENT HISTORY AT ILLINOIS CENTRAL TOURNAMENT
The Lady Trojans placed third in the 2013 and 2014 holiday tournaments. They placed fourth in 2016 and 2017, fifth in 2017 and seventh in 2015.
Last season, NIACC topped Kalamazoo Valley CC 122-58 in the first round. The Lady Trojans lost to Illinois Central 66-62 in the semifinals and fell to Owens CC 73-63 in the consolation game.
FRIDAY, DEC. 28
Noon – Carl Sandburg College (5-8) vs. Parkland College (8-3)
2 p.m. – Kirkwood (9-4) vs. McHenry County CC (8-3)
4 p.m. – NIACC (8-2) vs. Bryant & Stratton (Wisconsin) (10-5)
6 p.m. – Sauk Valley CC (2-7) vs. Illinois Central (11-1)
SATURDAY, DEC. 29
10 a.m. – Carl Sandburg/Parkland loser vs. Kirkwood/McHenry County loser
Noon – NIACC/Bryant & Stratton loser vs. Sauk Valley/Illinois Central loser
2 p.m. – Carl Sandburg/Parkland winner vs. Kirkwood/McHenry County winner
4 p.m. – NIACC/Bryant & Stratton winner vs. Sauk Valley/Illinois Central winner
SUNDAY, DEC. 30
10 a.m. – 7th-place game
Noon – 5th-place game
2 p.m. – Consolation game
4 p.m. – Championship game
