APPLETON, Wis. — The Illinois College women’s basketball team built a big lead Saturday and then held off a determined effort by Lawrence University in a 65-52 Midwest Conference victory by the Lady Blues at Alexander Gymnasium.
Reigning MWC Player of the Year Hannah McGinnis posted an impressive double-double with 30 points and 18 rebounds for the Lady Blues (13-7, 10-5 MWC). Maddy Keith added a double-double for Illinois College with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Kassidy Rinehart posted her own double-double for the Vikings (0-19, 0-15) with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Danelle Buck led Lawrence with 14 points, and Olivia Hoesley came off the bench to add 10 points.
Illinois College jumped out to a 15-5 lead just 6:16 into the first half, but the Vikings battled back. Lawrence went on a 10-2 run late in the half as Buck hit a pair of 3-pointers to help trim the lead to 28-23 with 3:27 left in the opening half. Illinois College then scored the final five points of the half to stretch the margin back to 33-23 at the break.
The Lady Blues opened the second half on a 16-2 run to stretch the lead to 49-25 with 14:41 left. Over the next 9:41, Lawrence slashed the lead to 11 points and 54-43 with 5:00 left. Rinehart scored six of Lawrence’s 18 points during that run.
McGinnis finally stemmed the tide with a layup, and the Lady Blues hit 7-of-10 free throws in the final 1:58 to seal the win.