JACKSONVILLE, Ill. – This afternoon, the Beloit College women's basketball team faced a challenging road test at Sherman Gymnasium, falling to Illinois College 80-47. Despite the final score, the Buccaneers displayed flashes of dominance early and saw standout performances from their core leaders in the mid-winter conference clash.
Beloit (4-8, 1-2 MWC) came out of the gate with high energy, catching the Lady Blues (5-7, 2-2 MWC) off guard with a 7-0 opening run. Hailey Johnson (South Milwaukee, Wis.) ignited the offense early, scoring five of the team's first seven points, including a smooth layup and a triple from beyond the arc. Brooke Foster (Machesney Park, Ill.) added a mid-range jumper during this stretch, as the Buccaneers held the lead for over seven minutes of the first quarter.
This early momentum shift showcased Beloit's potential to dictate the pace of the game through defensive stops and transition play. However, Illinois College managed to find their rhythm late in the first, eventually closing the gap to 15-13 by the end of the period.
Senior forward Johnson led the way for Beloit, finishing the afternoon with a team-high 15 points. Johnson was also a force on the defensive end, recording two blocks and two steals while battling foul trouble late in the game.
Coming off the bench, Aina Mallorqui (Valls, Spain) provided a massive spark for the Buccaneers. Mallorqui's aggressive playstyle kept Beloit in contention during the middle quarters, as she drew multiple fouls and went a nearly perfect 7-of-8 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points.
On the boards, Kaitlin Davis (Platte City, Mo.) was a relentless presence. Davis hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds (nine defensive), marking a significant individual effort against a tall Illinois College frontcourt. Her ability to limit second-chance opportunities was crucial in keeping the Bucs competitive throughout the first half.
The game's momentum swung heavily in favor of the Lady Blues during the second and third quarters, as Illinois College's depth and a 25-point second-quarter surge allowed them to pull away. Beloit struggled with turnovers against the IC press, committing 33 on the day, which the Lady Blues converted into 27 points.
Despite the mounting deficit, Beloit refused to quit. In the third quarter, the Buccaneers put up 17 points, their most productive period of the game. The team showed improved discipline at the charity stripe, finishing the game 17-of-26 (65.4%) as a unit.
The Buccaneers return to Flood Arena on Wednesday, January 7th to host MWC-foe, Knox College. Tip off against the Prairie Fire is set for 7:30 pm.
