Metro Sports Report

Mount Mercy women denied victory

The Mount Mercy women's basketball team had a chance to collect its  first victory in the Heartland Conference Wednesday night, but the  opportunity slipped away in the final seconds.

Mount Mercy lost to Missouri Valley, 63-59, in a tight game at the  Hennessey Recreation Center.

The setback dropped the Mustangs to 0-8 in the conference and 4-10  overall. Missouri Valley raised its records to 4-4 in the league and  5-8 overall

Chelsey Lampe gave Mount Mercy a 57-56 lead with a 3-pointer with 3:34  remaining, but Missouri Valley owned a 61-59 advantage heading into  the final minute.

Brianna Thomas of Mount Mercy missed a shot with a few seconds left  that would have tied the game at 61-61, but the Mustangs corralled the  offensive rebound for a second chance. Anna LeGrand had a good look  for a 3-pointer for a potential 62-61 lead with two seconds left, but  the shot refused to fall for the Mustangs.

No. 4 Illinois Central tops No. 11 Eagles

PEORIA, Ill. - The Kirkwood Eagles have improved by 33 points in their  battles with Illinois Central this season, but it wasn't enough Sunday in the championship game of the Cougar Classic.

The 11th-ranked Eagles lost to No. 4 Illinois Central, 71-59, to finish second in the eight-team holiday tournament.

Illinois Central dumped Kirkwood, 94-49, when they met Dec. 10 in   Peoria, so the Eagles chopped their deficit from 45 points down to 12.

Illinois Central won its 14th straight game and raised its record to 14-1. Kirkwood fell to 11-5.

Mackenzie Jenkins led Kirkwood with 13 points. Ashley Tull netted 11 points and Anasha Hurst had 10. Tull, Hurst and Paige Bradford were named to the all-tournament team.

No. 11 Eagles eye title at Cougar Classic

PEORIA, Ill. - Anasha Hurst popped in 16 points Saturday to help the Kirkwood women's basketball team defeat Parkland, 67-47, in the semifinals of the Cougar Classic holiday tournament.

The 11th-ranked Eagles (11-4) will face fourth-ranked Illinois Central (13-1) in the finals Sunday at 4 p.m.

Kirkwood and Parkland were tied at halftime, 23-23, but the Eagles outscored Parkland 44-24 in the second half for the comfortable 20-point victory in Illinois.

Paige Bradford contributed 12 points for Kirkwood and Ashley Tull chipped in with 10 markers.

Olivia Babcock scored 11 points for Parkland (9-3), which shot 30.2 percent from the field and was 2 for 24 on 3-pointers.

No. 11 Eagles dump McHenry County

PEORIA, Ill. – The 11th-ranked Kirkwood Eagles demolished McHenry County, 89-28, in the opening round of the Cougar Classic holiday tournament Friday.

Kirkwood (10-4) will face Parkland (9-2) in the semifinals Saturday at 2 p.m.

Paige Bradford, Amara Lipsey and Haley Mullinnix led a balanced attack for the Eagles with 11 points apiece. Anasha Hurst contributed 10 points.

Kirkwood led 42-15 at halftime and outscored McHenry County 47-13 in the second half.