CHICAGO - Chicago State women's basketball put together a dominant performance, leading from start to finish in a 77-63 victory over Mercyhurst at the Emil and Patricia A. Jones Convocation Center. Behind a strong offensive effort and aggressive defense, the Cougars secured their fifth win of the season in front of the home crowd.
The Cougars had four players in double figures led by Kate Urlacher and Aiyanna Culver who each had 16 points. Urlacher added eight rebounds while Culver had five assists and six steals. Tania Allen added 13 points while Hailey Hohenecker posted 11 points.
Chicago State wasted no time setting the tone, outscoring Mercyhurst 20-12 in the first quarter. Kace Urlacher and Aiyanna Culver led the charge early, controlling the tempo on both ends of the floor. The Cougars extended their lead in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 37-21 advantage. Their defense forced 16 turnovers in the first half, leading to 24 points in the paint.
Chicago State's offensive efficiency continued in the third quarter as they built their biggest lead of the game, 29 points at the 3:09 mark. Hailey Hohenecker knocked down a key three-pointer, while Tania Allen and Kayla Mount provided strong contributions off the bench. Mercyhurst attempted to rally in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Cougars 24-14, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Mercyhurst was led by Bailey Kuhns, who finished with 20 points and 4 rebounds, while Allyson Ross contributed 15 points and 7 rebounds.
Chicago State will look to carry the momentum into their final home game of the season when they host Saint Francis on Senior Day on Saturday at the JCC.
About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University sponsors 16 Division I intercollegiate athletic teams and competes in the Northeast Conference with the exception of men's and women's tennis who will compete in the Horizon League during the 2024-25 season. CSU's athletic program includes over 150 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, triathlon and volleyball.Â
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