EAST PEORIA, Ill. – After Wabash Valley scored the first five points of the fourth quarter against Illinois Central to open a 75-70 lead, it appeared as if they had finally seized control of the game.
However, the homestanding Cougars answered with a surge all their own, to take control, and they went on to win Wednesday's dual of nationally ranked teams, 98-89.
WVC (4-2) is ranked 15th in this week's NJCAA Division I poll. Illinois Central (2-0) is ranked ninth in Division II.
A 3-point field goal by Je'Naiya Davis gave Wabash Valley its' last lead of the game, 82-81 with around four minutes remaining. But the Cougars scored five points in the next 60 seconds to regain a lead they would not surrender.
It was Davis who scored her first five points early as the Warriors bolted to an 11-4 lead. Illinois Central responded there as well, with a 13-4 run that produced its first lead of the game, 17-15.
The Cougars led at the end of the first quarter, 19-18, and at halftime, 46-44.
A 3-pointer from Makira Webster brought WVC into a 70-70 tie at the end of the third quarter.
There were 54 personal fouls called in the game, and it impacted the Warriors in a mostly negative. Two starters fouled out, including sophomore Jazmyn Turner, who spent much of the third period on the bench.
Kiki Carney also fouled out.
Illinois Central hit 35-of-44 at the foul line, while Wabash Valley was just 19-of-37.
Turner led the Warriors in scoring with 17 points. Webster and Je'Naiya Davis were next with 15 points, while Carney and Deja Davis added 11.
Derria Edwards paced Illinois Central (2-0) with 27 points.
Wabash Valley is now idle until next Monday, when the Warriors return to Great Rivers Athletic Conference play at Kaskaskia. The next home game is on Wed., Feb. 10 against Southwestern.