PEORIA, Ill. – The No. 3 NIACC women’s basketball team dropped a 84-77 decision to No. 4 Illinois Central in the semifinals of the Cougar Holiday Tournament on Saturday.
The game was tied 37-37 at the half and the Cougars took a 63-49 lead after three quarters.
NIACC trimmed the deficit to 76-71 in the fourth quarter but that would be as close as the Lady Trojans would get.
Freshman Autam Mendez led NIACC with 23 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Tahya Campbell scored 12 points with seven rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Also for the Lady Trojans, Kelcie Hale and Ty’neecia Longs both scored 10 points.
Illinois Central evened the season series with the Lady Trojans, who topped the Cougars 95-89 in overtime in the season opener for both teams in November.
NIACC (9-3) plays Parkland College (9-4) in the consolation game at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Illinois Central (13-1) faces No. 11 Kirkwood (11-4) in Sunday’s 4 p.m. title game.
COUGAR HOLIDAY TOURNAMENT
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
Parkland College 67, Carl Sandburg College 61
Kirkwood 89, McHenry County CC 28
NIACC 77, Bryant & Stratton (Wisconsin) 70
Illinois Central 88, Sauk Valley 44
SATURDAY’S RESULTS
McHenry County CC 61, Carl Sandburg 24
Sauk Valley 81, Bryant & Stratton 76
Kirkwood 67, Parkland 47
Illinois Central 84, NIACC 77
SUNDAY, DEC. 30
10 a.m. – 7th-place game – Carl Sandburg (5-10) vs. Bryant & Stratton (10-7)
Noon – 5th-place game – McHenry County CC (9-4) vs. Sauk Valley (3-8)
2 p.m. – Consolation game – Parkland (9-4) vs. NIACC (9-3)
4 p.m. – Championship game – Kirkwood (11-4) vs. Illinois Central (13-1)
NIACC/ILLINOIS CENTRAL RECENT HISTORY
2012-13
Illinois Central 71, NIACC 56
Illinois Central 76, NIACC 56
2013-14
NIACC 101, Illinois Central 86
Illinois Central 82, NIACC 81
2014-15
NIACC 87, Illinois Central 79
Illinois Central 89, NIACC 72
2015-16
NIACC 84, Illinois Central 76 (OT)
Illinois Central 86, NIACC 75
Illinois Central 87, NIACC 54
Illinois Central 85, NIACC 71 (NJCAA Division II national tournament)
2016-17
NIACC 95, Illinois Central 76
2017-18
NIACC 99, Illinois Central 82
Illinois Central 66, NIACC 62
2018-19
NIACC 95, Illinois Central 89 (OT)
Illinois Central 84, NIACC 77
