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CHICAGO – In a game that featured 13 ties and 11 lead changes, sophomore
Jackie Jones (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King)' (Detroit, Mich./Martin Luther King) layup and rebound in the final minute helped the Chicago State women's basketball team defeat Western Illinois 56-54 on Tuesday (Jan. 29) evening.
Jones, who led three Cougars in double figures with 15 points, came through in the second half for Chicago State with big baskets down the stretch including a key basket with 26.7 seconds left in the contest to put Chicago State up 56-52.
Western Illinois' Michelle Maher then drove the lane for a layup to make it 56-54. After a couple Leatherneck fouls, sophomore
Tierra Williams (Detroit, Mich./Lathrup) (Detroit, Mich./Lathrup) missed the front end of a one-and-one that gave Western Illinois a chance to tie or win the game with 11 seconds left. Western Illinois elected to not call a timeout and trusted Maher with the final shot, but her running jumper in the lane was too strong off the glass. Jones corralled the rebound to ensure the two-point victory.
Chicago State made things tough for Western Illinois on the defensive end forcing 20 turnovers, which helped the Cougars to 13 steals and held the Leathernecks under their season average of 64.8 points per game. The Cougars also defended the arc well, holding WIU to just 20.0 percent shooting from distance (6-for-30). In the first meeting between the two clubs, Jan. 8 in Macomb, the Leathernecks shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from 3-point land.
Tuesday's victory was a stark contrast to the Jan. 8 meeting when WIU won by 35 points. Chicago State head coach
Angela Jackson said she can see her team improving.
“We're growing up as the season is progressing,” Jackson said. “When you only have eight kids, everybody knows they're going to play so they get in there and work hard.”
Sophomore
Paris Williams (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) (St. Louis, Mo./Pattonville) added 14 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Cougars. Williams had a 3-pointer with 2:37 remaining and a second chance basket with 1:05 left to help push the Cougars over the edge. Freshman
Layne Murphy (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Central) (Country Club Hills, Ill./Rich Central) chipped in with 10 to help Chicago State to their third win in their last four games.
The largest lead in the game was just five points, an advantage both teams held in the first half. Chicago State finished the game shooting 40.0 percent (22-of-55) from the floor while WIU managed just a 35.5 percent (22-of-62) performance.
Chicago State improves to 4-18 overall, while Western Illinois falls to 10-11. Chicago State travels to IUPUI for their next contest on Feb. 5. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET in the Circle City.
