Chargers Beat Morton in Region IV Quarters for 5th Straight Win
Aaron Frey
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 7:51 PM
Athletics
Galesburg, IL
Four Carl Sandburg College women’s basketball players scored in double figures as the Chargers held off Morton 78-68 on Tuesday night at John M. Lewis Gymnasium in the quarterfinals of the Region IV Division II District L tournament.
The victory was the fifth in a row and eighth in the last 10 games for the third-seeded Chargers (14-13), who advance to play in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Saturday at Waubonsee against the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 2 South Suburban and No. 7 Milwaukee Area Technical.
KEY MOMENTS
- With the Chargers up 26-23 in the second quarter, sophomore guard Danayzia Stuckey (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) kickstarted a 10-0 run with a short jumper and a 3-pointer, helping Sandburg to a 40-29 halftime lead. The Chargers held the No. 6 seed Panthers (16-15) scoreless for nearly 6 minutes during the run.
- A scoop shot in the lane from Miriah Sierra pulled the pesky Panthers to within 64-59 with 5:57 to play, but Sandburg answered with seven straight points and 11 of the next 14 to pull away. Freshman forward Alyssa Hopson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) had all six of her points during the stretch as Sandburg built its lead to 13 with 2:00 to go.
SANDBURG STANDOUT
Stuckey, fresh off being named to the All-Region team, hit three 3s and tied Kennedy Jackson (Peoria, Ill./Limestone) for the team lead with 15 points. She finished 6 of 11 from the floor and 3 of 6 beyond the arc while also grabbing three steals.
OTHER TOP CHARGERS
- Jackson matched Stuckey’s 15 points while hitting 7 of 9 shots from the floor.
- Sophomore guard Katie Droste (Biggsville, Ill./West Central) scored 12 and had five of the Chargers’ 15 assists on the night.
- Freshman Cora Neal (Monmouth, Ill./Monmouth-Roseville) knocked down three first-quarter 3s and finished with 12 points.
- Sophomore guard Jordan Price (Fulton, Ill./Fulton) had six assists and did all of her scoring from the free-throw line, going 8 of 10 at the stripe.
FOR THE PANTHERS
Sierra led all players with 17 points, and Miranda Garcia hit five 3s to account for her 15 points. Jeannette Villezcas (13) and Maya Hobson (12) also had double-digit nights for Morton.