JOLIET, Ill. – Behind a dominant performance from Jessica Carrothers, Indiana Northwest edged St. Francis (IL) 71-68 in a tightly contested Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) showdown Saturday afternoon at the Sullivan Center. The win extended the RedHawks' streak to six games and propelled them into a tie for third place with the Saints in the conference standings.
Carrothers paced the RedHawks (16-4, 9-3 CCAC) with a game-high 29 points on 14-of-23 shooting. The junior guard also added three rebounds, two assists, and two steals while playing all 40 minutes. Forward Tiara Jackson was a force in the paint, recording a double-double with 19 points and a season-high 16 rebounds, including 14 on the defensive glass. Katelyn Halfacre provided an additional scoring punch, knocking down four 3-pointers on her way to 17 points.
The game was tightly contested from start to finish, featuring five lead changes and three ties. St. Francis (16-4, 9-3 CCAC) came out strong, taking a 17-15 lead after the first quarter, but the RedHawks responded with a 22-point second quarter to carry a 37-32 advantage into halftime. Carrothers scored 10 of her points in the second period, helping Indiana Northwest gain momentum.
The Saints, led by Tykara Harrison's 19 points and five rebounds, fought back in the second half. Harrison sparked a late rally in the fourth quarter, scoring key baskets to cut the deficit. Le'lani Harris was a steady contributor, finishing with 15 points and a perfect 8-for-8 performance at the free-throw line, while Abby Shepard came off the bench to provide a spark with nine points, including three 3-pointers.
Despite their efforts, the Saints could not fully overcome the RedHawks' balanced attack. Indiana Northwest maintained composure down the stretch, with Jackson's rebounding and defensive presence helping to hold St. Francis at bay.
Indiana Northwest shot 48.3% (29-of-60) from the field, compared to 35.5% (22-of-62) for St. Francis. The Saints stayed in the game by converting 10-of-31 from beyond the arc and going 14-of-16 from the free-throw line. Both teams capitalized on second-chance opportunities, with St. Francis narrowly outscoring Indiana Northwest 12-10 in that category.
The victory is Indiana Northwest's sixth straight and improves its record to 16-4 overall and 9-3 in CCAC play. The RedHawks will look to keep their streak alive when they host Holy Cross College on Wednesday, January 29, at 5 p.m. CT in the Savannah Center.
Recap by PJ Katona
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