Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – This afternoon the Principia College women's basketball team headed to Jacksonville, Ill. to face the MacMurray College Highlanders in their latest conference match-up, and final game before Christmas. The Panthers struck first, with sophomore shooting guard
Megan Selby hitting a three pointer from the left corner to give Principia the 3-0 start, and as it would turn out, the Panthers would trail for just a few minutes the entire game. Back-to-back buckets from senior captain
Kara Johnson came next, followed by a crucial three and a pair of free throws from junior forward
Rachel Perea which put Principia back on top for good. Selby wrapped up the first quarter with another three ball right before the buzzer, giving Principia a 20-18 lead headed into the 2
nd quarter. Junior forward
Isabella Perea would hit her first jumper of the game to start the quarter (she also had 7 boards on the game), and some solid trips to the free throw line kept the Panther's head above water to finish out the half with a 38-29 lead.
The 3
rd quarter was the rockiest for the Panthers, with 7 of their 17 turnovers coming in the quarter which allowed the Highlanders to close the gap. Fortunately the clutch shooting from Selby continued (she was 2-2 from range in the 3
rd and shot over 50% from beyond the arc for the game) and Johnson added a 3-point play in the final seconds allowing Principia to survive with a 6 point lead headed into the 4
th. In the end it came down to conversion from the charity stripe for the Panthers, who stayed united and composed in the face of very physical play from the Highlanders down the stretch. Principia went to the line 21 times in the 4
th, making 14 of those attempts. This also included a 5-6 free throw performance from freshman shooting guard
Laura Cluthe who saw extended minutes in the 4
th quarter and really iced the game for the Panthers with her made free throws. The Highlanders would convert on a 3-point play that got them within two points at 62-60, but it was the closest they would come. At the final buzzer, Principia came away with a solid team victory and their first conference win of the season, 77-71.
Notable statistical include
Rachel Perea with 19 points and 5 assists, Selby with a season-high 14 points and the aforementioned 57% three point field goal percentage, and Johnson who had a career high 37 points to which she added 9 boards.
The Panthers are now off for Christmas and will play next on December 30
th at home versus Millikin College. The game is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.
