By Jami Sponaugle

Chicago, Ill. - Although the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's basketball team kept action close in the first quarter, the St. Norbert College Green Knights dominated the rest of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) contest. The Green Knights (18-3, 14-0), who are undefeated and ranked first in conference play, defeated the Hawks (5-15, 3-11) 85-31. 

First Half (St. Norbert 42 - Illinois Tech 14)

• After the Green Knights went up 4-0 to begin the contest, Kaya Jones nailed a 3-pointer to put the Hawks on the board. With 4:41 remaining in the quarter, Allie Sillo tied the contest at 10-10 with a 3-pointer. The two sides were once again tied up at 3:12 on the clock after a Camden Joko jump shot made it 12-12. The Green Knights ended the quarter with a 5-0 run to make it 17-12. 

• The second quarter went in favor of the Green Knights as they outscored the HAWKS 25-2 to take a 42-14 lead at halftime. 

Second Half (St. Norbert 43 - Illinois Tech 17)

• Continuing where they left off, the Green Knights went on a 16-2 run to begin the third quarter. Jones made two jump shots and Sillo made two 3-pointers to account for the Hawks 10 points. At the end of the third quarter the Green Knights led 68-24.

• Closing out the game, the Green Knights took the fourth quarter 17-7 to take a 85-31 victory over the Hawks. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Jones led the Hawks with 14 points. Jones finished with 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. 

• Allie Sillo followed with 9 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists.

 Green Knight Standouts

• Off the bench, Taylor Thiry led the Green Knights with a double-double of 18 points, 10 rebounds. Thiry ended with 1 assist and 1 steal as well.

• Casey Jepson followed with 15 points. Jepson tied for the lead in assists with 4. Jespon finished with 1 rebound and 2 steals. 

• Chloe Gruszynski tied for the lead in assists with 4 and steals with 3 while picking up 12 points and 4 rebounds. 

• Kaycee Gieczak rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 points and tallied 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and led the Green Hawks with 2 blocks. 

Inside the Box Score

• The Hawks went 13-off-47 (27.7%) from the field, 4-of-22 (18.2%) from three, and 1-of-4 (25.0%) in free throws. The Green Knights went 33-of-62 (53.2%), 9-of-26 (34.6%), and 10-of-13 (76.9%) respectively.

• The Hawks were outrebounded 41-21.

• The Green Knights capitalized on the Hawks 23 turnovers to pick up 26 points. 

Head Coach Carissa Sain's Comments:

• "There is a reason that St. Norbert sits at the top of our conference - they are very good on both sides of the ball.  Not only are they talented individually but they play together in a way that maximizes each other's potential.  I thought we did some really positive things tonight.  We came out strong in the first quarter and executed on some adjustments in the second half.  What didn't go so well we will learn from and be better for next time!"

Up Next

The Hawks welcome Mount Mary University to the Keating Sports Center for the final non-conference contest of the 2022-23 season. Tip-off is set for 7:00p.m.