RIVER FOREST, ILL. --- In the official home opener for women's basketball, the Concordia University Chicago Cougars would show out against the Illinois College Lady Blues in Geiseman. With a double overtime game, the Cougars would take their first win of the season 93-88.
INSIDE THE BOX
- Mikalah Ellis (Chicago, Ill.) would lead the Cougar offensively with 31 points followed by Khaliah Reid (Naperville, Ill.) with 25 points.
- Alisyn MacGregor (Loves Park, Ill.) defensively led the team with 17 rebounds.
First Quarter
Illinois College started the game off early, getting the first shot of the day 2-0. Ellis responded swiftly for the Cougars bringing the total to 2-2. The Lady Blues would aggressively take the lead 10-2. Alexis Desjarlait (Red Lake, Minn.) started the Cougar's efforts in closing the lead with a field goal 10-5. Reid would be fouled in the paint, allowing her to bring in three points 13-8.
The duo of Abby Kulig (Carol Stream, Ill.) and Prentciss Gates (Gary, Ind.) would join in on the Cougar's attempts to reduce the lead with a layup and foul shots, closing the lead 19-12.
The Lady Blues quickly tallied points, but MacGregor in the paint would respond with a layup 23-14. Reid would close out the quarter with a field goal 23-17.
Second Quarter
The Lady Blues would follow up swiftly to the Cougars attempts, starting the quarter scoring the first three points 26-17. MacGregor drove in a layup, followed up by a free throw 26-20. The Cougars and Lady Blues would exchange shots with action from Nazuri Whigham (Naperville, Ill.), Ellis, and Reid 30-26.
Ellis would take control of the court, scoring four shots and forcing the lead for the Cougars 35-33. Desjarlait would follow this up with some successful free throw attempts leading the score 37-33. Aggressively, Reid in the paint pulled the lead for the Cougars 39-33. The Lady Blues closed the quarter with a free throw 39-34.
Third Quarter
The Lady Blues were fouled starting the quarter with two free throws bringing their deficit 39-36. Ellis would silence their efforts with a field goal 42-36. Fired up, the Lady Blues closed the lead to two 42-40. Reid responded to these efforts with a field goal 45-40.
The Lady Blues would gain the upper hand 48-45. Cydnei Mitchell (Aurora, Ill.) would add her name to the scoreboard, tying the score 48-48. The Lady Blues and Reid would exchange layups, ending the quarter 50-50.
Fourth Quarter
MacGregor would drive into the paint taking the lead for the Cougars 52-50. The Lady Blues would be fouled on a layup, allowing them to score 53-52. Mitchell would score a lone free throw in bonus forcing a tie 53-53.
The Cougars, from the efforts of Ellis and Kulig, with the Lady Blues would exchange points 60-60. The Lady Blues would break the tie 64-60. A miscue from the Lady Blues would allow Mitchell to lower their lead to 64-62. In an effort from both teams in bonus, would score free throws bringing the score to 70-67 Lady Blues
Reid, however, would not let the Cougars lose in their own house and scored a field goal forcing overtime 70-70.
Overtime
Reid and MacGregor would position the Cougars for a lead of 73-70. The Lady Blues would respond with a field goal and free throws bringing the score 75-73. Ellis would sink in a jumper tying the score 75-74. In an exchange of free throws, the Cougars would tie the score 76-76. The Lady Blues would hope to end the game on a layup, 78-76, but Ellis would score a jumper forcing the teams to double overtime 78-78.
Double Overtime
The Lady Blues would score the first three points of the overtime 81-78. Reid aggressively drove into the paint for a layup 81-80. However, the Lady Blues would respond with a field goal 84-80. Ellis would not back down, scoring four points for the Cougars.
Each team would exchange points causing the lead to sway for Lady Blues 88-85. Reid and Gates would close out the game for the Cougars ending overtime 93-88.
What's Next:
The Cougars will be traveling to Olivet, Michigan to take on Olivet College on Nov. 14th at 6:00 p.m. Coverage can be found at cucougars.com as well as the team's Twitter @CUCWbball
