No. 3 Lady Trojans fall to No. 4 Illinois Central, 84-77

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

When NIACC                                                   Then NIACC is

In November                                                    7-2

In December                                                    2-1

Plays at home                                                  4-0

Plays on road                                                   1-2

Plays on neutral court                                       4-1

Leads at halftime                                              9-1

Trails at halftime                                                0-1

Tied at halftime                                                  0-1

Plays in overtime                                               1-0

Scores less than 60 points                                 0-0

Scores between 60-69 points                             0-0

Scores between 70-79 points                             2-3

Scores between 80-89 points                             0-1

Scores between 90-99 points                             1-0

Scores 100 or more points                                 6-0

Allows less than 60 points                                  0-0

Allows between 60-69 points                             2-0

Allows between 70-79 points                             3-1

Allows between 80-89 points                             2-2

Allows between 90-99 points                             2-0

Allows 100 or more points                                  0-0

Game decided by 1-3 points                               0-0

Game decided by 4-6 points                               1-1

Game decided by 7-10 points                             1-2

Game decided by 11-14 points                           1-0

Game decided by 15+ points                             6-0