Bob Hunt Photographer

The Peoria Notre Dame Lady Irish (2-3) softball team brought there hitting shoes with them as they defeated Dunlap 14-4 in a non-conference game Monday afternoon at Laura Bradley Park. Sophomore first baseman Chloe Petersen led the Irish offense with three hits and four RBI’s. Mikkinzie Stokes and Annie Fleming combined to limit the Eagles offense to four hits.

-Bob

Kirkwood Community College (13-3) jumped out early for a double-digit first half lead using a 16-0 run that spanned 8:42 and held on to defeat the hosts ICC (13-3) 59-41 in the championship game of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Cougar Holiday Tournament at Lorene Ramsey Gymnasium. The Eagles had a rebounding advantage (52-34) and shot 47.9 percent from the field, led by Kianna Jacobs’ game highs with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Helena Rodriguez led the Cougars in scoring with 12 points.

-Bob

Kirkwood Community College beat the Cincinnati State Technical & Community College 75-60 in a first round game of the Fairfield Inn and Suites Holiday Tournament. The Eagles wore down the Surge who only had seven healthy players during the game at Lorene Ramsey Gymnasium in East Peoria, IL. Kianna Jacobs led Kirkwood in scoring with 21 points and Whitney Henderson added 13. Desiree Ash scored 15 for Cincinnati State, Brandi Henschen added 14 and Hannah Stephenson had 12. The Eagles advance to face top seeded Lake Michigan College at 6 p.m. Saturday.

-Bob

Bradley junior forward Tyshon Pickett recorded his second career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds, leading the Braves (7-2) to a 62-43 win against Georgia Southern (4-6) in the first round of the 2012 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic Monday night at Carver Arena before 6,140 fans. While matching the team’s 2011-12 season victory total (7-25), Bradley overcame a cold-shooting night with its best defensive performance in eight years. The Braves shot just 33.9 percent (20-59) from the field, but held the Eagles to 43 points on 35.4 percent (17-48) shooting, the fewest points allowed since Jan. 3, 2004 in a 52-42 win against Indiana State. Will Egolf joined Pickett as the only other Brave in double figures, scoring 12 points while adding eight rebounds.  In addition to his offensive effort, Pickett turned in a solid defensive effort by helping to limit Georgia Southern star forward Eric Ferguson to four points and seven rebounds.  C.J. Reed led the Eagles with 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting.

-Bob

Bradley shot 55 percent in the second half and used a 10-0 run early in the period to take control of what was a three-point game at the break as the Braves pulled away down the stretch for an 80-64 victory against visiting Winthrop Saturday night at Renaissance Coliseum. Junior Catie O’Leary paced three Bradley players in double figures with 18 points and finished with 12 made free throws to tie for the sixth most free throws made in school history. Joining O’Leary in double figures were sophomore Shronda Butts with 17 points and senior Katie Yohn with 12 points. Yohn scored nine of her 12 points in the final 12 minutes of the game to help BU pull away down the stretch, while O’Leary scored 12 of her game-high 18 points in the second half. Butts pulled down a career-best seven rebounds and matched a career-high five assists to help lead the Braves’ offensive efforts. Bradley (4-3 overall) used a 9-2 run midway through the first half to go in front 16-12 and extended the lead to as many as eight points (26-18) with 5:46 to play on a pair of Butts free throws. The Braves had just one field goal in the final 6:34 of the period, however, allowing Winthrop to pull within three points (32-29) at the break. Click here to view more game photo’s.

-Bob