After a 63-58 win on Wednesday, January 15 against Knox College, the Monmouth College women’s basketball team was 10-4 in regular season play and 5-2 in conference play. The Fighting Scots went into Saturday the 18th on a two-game winning streak. They played at Beloit College in Beloit, WI. The Fighting Scots won 84-48. Monmouth led the game from start to finish. Monmouth led 12-2 in the first four minutes of the game. Monmouth’s defense was a big part of that lead, allowing just 2 out of 12 shots by Buccaneers in the first 10 minutes. The Scots led the first quarter 18-9. They then finished the first half 39-19. The third half was the Scots lowest-scoring quarter, adding 16 points to their score to bring the lead to 55-37. The fourth quarter was their highest-scoring quarter, scoring 29 points to end the game 84-48, putting them in second place in MWC. Senior Carley Turnbull led the team with 19 points. Senior Yvonne Ornelas and senior Becca Gallis followed with 13 each.
Next, the Scots played on Tuesday the 21st at Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL. Monmouth kept the winning streak alive winning against Illinois College in a tough game 78-69. Monmouth fell behind Illinois in the first quarter, scoring only 8 points compared to Illinois College’s 22. Monmouth chipped away at Illinois College’s lead, scoring 14 points to Illinois’s 9. Making the score 22-31 in the first half. Monmouth continued to chip in the second half, scoring 24 in the third quarter giving them 46 compared to Illinois’s 52. Monmouth overtook Illinois College in the fourth quarter with 32 points, winning the game 78-69. Gallis led the team with 16 points, followed by junior Shayne Smith (13) and Yvonne (12).
Monmouth went on to play against Lake Forrest College at home. Monmouth started out the game scoring 20 points in the first quarter, giving them a 20-6 lead. They finished the half leading 31-20. They went on to win the game 76-51. Turnbull led the team with 20 points. Monmouth finished 13-4 and 8-2 in conference play. They will play Friday the 31st in Ripon, WI against Ripon College at 7:30 and Saturday, February 1 at 3 at Appleton, WI against Lawrence University. Both games are conference games.
Loren Fox - Contributing Writer