(Sugar Grove, IL.) - Waubonsee Community College's women's basketball picked up their first win of the season with a lopsided 79-43 victory over visiting Harper College on Saturday afternoon in Erickson Hall Gymnasium. The Chiefs (1-1) used their speed and depth to wear down the Hawks (0-3) and keep them winless on the season so far. Waubonsee led by as many as 43 points and dominated Harper on the glass. The Chiefs owned a 61-43 advantage in rebounding, including a 25-10 edge in offensive boards. Waubonsee also outscored the Hawks 22-4 in fast break points and 42-12 on points in the paint.
Waubonsee got on the board first as Serenity Evans scored down low on the Chiefs' opening possession. A minute later Niallie Evans scored on a left-handed lay-up in transition to help Waubonsee take an early 6-3 lead. Moments later Danielle Bulson then spun around a defender and dished off to Makayla McNally, fresh off an All-Conference season on the volleyball court for the Chiefs, for an easy lay-in. Waubonsee quickly built a double-digit lead and extended it to 22-9 on a three-pointer from the right wing by Bulson. Samantha Kerry capped off the Chiefs' big first quarter with a triple from deep in the right corner as the home team took a commanding 27-11 lead entering the second period.
Coach Jim Williams' Chiefs continued to pull away as the second quarter progressed as their relentless pressure defense grounded the Hawks. Waubonsee led 33-12 before Kerry made a steal and went in for a breakaway lay-up midway through the stanza. Savannah FitzSimons then recorded a steal and scored inside to push the lead to 42-16 with three minutes left in the half. A hectic sequence ended with Anna-Marie Godina burying a three-pointer that resulted in Harper head coach Mari Neberieza calling a timeout. However, it did not slow down the Chiefs as Godina nailed another triple shortly after play resumed. Waubonsee eventually carried a comfortable 50-19 lead heading into the locker room.
Harper was able to slightly cut into the Chiefs' lead early in the third quarter before Waubonsee then scored three quick baskets to forge ahead 62-24. A breakaway lay-in by FitzSimons pushed the lead to 40 points with a minute left in the quarter. Larson then swished a high-arching three-pointer moments later to make it 67-26. Waubonsee entered the final stanza with a 68-28 lead as Williams continued to liberally utilize his bench all game long.
The Chiefs' shooting began to cool off in the fourth quarter allowing the Hawks to cut the lead down to 33 points with five minutes remaining. Looking to carry some momentum into their next game, Williams called a timeout to refocus his crew. Waubonsee responded as Nylah Mathews went coast-to-coast with a steal and breakaway lay-up. A minute later Bulson drilled a long trey and Niallie Evans drove down the lane to score in traffic to help the Chiefs maintain a substantial lead.
Bulson paced Waubonsee's offense with a double-double, netting 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds to go along with five assists. FitzSimons added 11 points, pulled down seven boards and handed out three assists. McNally finished with 11 points and snagged five rebounds. Point guard Niallie Evans tallied eight points, snagged seven boards and dished out five assists. Kerry and Serenity Evans each booked nine points, while Godina chipped in with eight points. Waubonsee is in action again this coming Tuesday, November 11, when they host Illinois Valley Community College beginning at 5:30 p.m. The men's contest between the Chiefs and Eagles will follow at 7:30 p.m.
photos by Reyna Esquivel