NIACC faces Bryant & Stratton in Illinois Central tourney

NIACC's Audrey Martinez-Stewart drives to the basket in Dec. 14 contest at home against Iowa Central.
NIACC's Audrey Martinez-Stewart drives to the basket in Dec. 14 contest at home against Iowa Central.
December 28, 2022

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - The NIACC women's basketball team will compete in the 41st annual Illinois Central Holiday Tournament on Thursday and Friday.

NIACC (9-3 overall) will play in the consolation bracket at 4 p.m. Thursday against No. 13 Bryant & Stratton (Wisconsin) (9-5). No. 3 CCBC Essex topped Bryant & Stratton 96-60 in the opening round of the tournament Wednesday night.

The winner of the NIACC/Bryant & Stratton contest faces Black Hawk College-Moline in the fifth-place game at noon on Friday. The loser of the NIACC/Bryant & Stratton contest faces South Suburban at 10 a.m. Friday in the seventh-place game.

Black Hawk College-Moline topped South Suburban 62-51 in the consolation round Thursday morning.

NIACC topped Black Hawk College-Moline 63-52 on Nov. 4 at the Konigsmark Klassic in the Trojans' season opener.

NIACC was a late addition to the annual tournament because Palm Beach State out of Florida could not make it because of flight issues.

On Friday, the Trojans will either play in the fifth-place game at noon or the seventh-place game at 10 a.m.

NIACC last played on Dec. 14 when the Trojans topped Iowa Central 70-51 in an ICCAC contest in the NIACC gym.

NIACC last played in the Illinois Central Holiday Tournament in the 2019-20 season - placing fifth. The Trojans dropped a 65-59 decision to Bryant & Stratton and then topped Sauk Valley CC (94-33) and Sinclair CC (89-66).

41st annual Illinois Central Holiday Tournament

Wednesday's results

Lake Land 79, Black Hawk College-Moline 73

Kirkwood 64, South Suburban 42

CCBC Essex 96, Bryant & Stratton 60

Note: Host Illinois Central advanced to the semifinals with a first-round bye.

Thursday's games

Black Hawk College-Moline 62, South Suburban 51

Kirkwood 70, Lake Land 46

CCBC Essex 93, Illinois Central 62

4 p.m. - NIACC vs. Bryant & Stratton

Friday's games

10 a.m. - 7th place game (South Suburban vs. NIACC/Bryant & Stratton loser)

Noon - 5th place game (Black Hawk College-Moline vs. NIACC/Bryant & Stratton winner)

2 p.m. - Consolation game (Lake Land vs. Illinois Central)

4 p.m. - Championship game (Kirkwood vs. CCBC Essex)