Beck returns to starting lineup in Lady Warriors romp past Kaskaskia

Bre Beck handles the ball against Lincoln Trail, in her first game back after a December injury.
Bre Beck handles the ball against Lincoln Trail, in her first game back after a December injury.

MT. CARMEL, ILL. – The last time Bre Beck had been in the starting lineup for Wabash Valley was on Dec. 4, the night she left the court with a knee injury. Upon her return to the lineup on Wednesday night, Beck seemed to pick right up where she left off.

Beck, a 5-foot-8 sophomore from Chicago, scored 16 points in 32 minutes of playing time in helping lead the 15h-ranked Lady Warriors to a crushing 112-44 Great Rivers Athletic Conference victory over Kaskaskia. Now 24-2 on the season and 15-0 in GRAC play, WVC moved to within one game of clinching at least a share of the league crown.

"She was playing 40 minutes a game before she got hurt," said Lady Warriors coach Lacey Shalenko. "Tonight she played 32. We've been trying to slowly get her back up and see how she feels playing that many minutes a game."

This was actually Beck's third game back since getting the green light from doctors. She played sparingly one week ago against Lincoln Trail, then played 25 minutes four night ago versus John A. Logan.

"This was the most minutes I've played since the injury. I think it's going good," Beck said of the recovery.

The game itself was never in question. WVC streaked to a 29-8 lead at the end of the first quarter, and by halftime the lead had ballooned to 60-17. The total of 112 points was the third-highest output of the season, and the 10th time this season clearing the century plateau. WVC has led the NJCAA in scoring for the last two years.

They also hit 61.5% of their shot attempts (on 48-of-78 accuracy), padding their national lead in that statistical category as well.

Mo Pruitt, 6-0 sophomore from Homewood, also returned to form, recording one of two double-doubles turned in by the winners. Pruitt wound up with 19 points and 10 rebounds, joining K.K. White's (6-0 sophomore from Indianapolis) 13/10 split.

Wabash Valley put seven players in double figures in all. Keya Patton (5-6 sophomore from Indianapolis) led with a team-high 20 points, while Jordan Aikens (6-1 sophomore from Chicago) added 15, matching the total for Krisen Hunt (5-6 sophomore from Elkhart, IN). Jazmyn Turner (6-2 freshman from Marion, IN) chipped in 14, missing a double by just one rebound.

WVC hosts Southwestern (1-22, 1-14 in GRAC) on Saturday at 4 p.m. on Sophomore Night. The Lady Warriors are also assured of hosting a first-round game in the upcoming District tournament. That game will be on Tuesday, March 3rd against an opponent to be named next week.