Harlan's Double Double Helps Scots Beat Rams

Monmouth puts three in double figures in home win

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/18/2023) — The Monmouth College women's basketball team led nearly wire to wire in a 63-50 home win over Cornell College on Tuesday. The Fighting Scots (8-9, 4-4) have won three of the last four home games and are tied for fourth in the Midwest Conference after handing the Rams just their second MWC defeat.

Cornell got the first basket of the game before Zoie Wall (Bartonville, Illinois) scored in the lane. Lily Harlan (Washington, Illinois) knocked down a baseline jumper and Wall put the Scots up 6-5. Wall got a steal and found Tarae Warner (Burlington, Iowa) for a layup and an 8-5 lead. After a 4-0 Rams run, Allie Hoy (Woodland, Illinois) banked in a jumper and Harlan made a baseline jumper. Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) hit a floater for a 14-9 Scots lead. Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) made it an 8-0 run and Harlan answered a Rams bucket before Cornell scored to cut the lead to 18-14.

After both teams turned it over to start the second quarter, Warner made a 3-pointer to put the Scots up 21-14. Cornell split free throws and the Scots went up 11 on a 3-pointer from Madison Heisch (Illinois City, Illinois) and a bucket from Jones. Leading 26-15, Jones knocked down a 3-pointer and Harlan hit a jumper for a 16-point lead as the Rams called timeout. Harlan reached double digits in the half with a pair of free throws and Jones made it a 20-point lead with a layup. Cornell made their first basket of the quarter in the final minute and the Scots led 35-19 at halftime.

The Rams made a 3-pointer to start the third quarter and Wall scored in the paint for the Scots. Harlan made a pair of free throws after the Rams scored and Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) got a steal and a layup for a 41-24 lead. The Rams went on a 7-1 run to cut the lead to 42-32 and Monmouth called timeout with 5:06 to go in the quarter. The teams traded baskets over the next two minutes before the Rams hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to nine. The Rams scored on their final two possessions as well and Monmouth's lead was 46-41 after three quarters.

Both teams scored early in the fourth quarter before Jones scored in the lane for a 50-43 lead. Leading by four, the Scots got a 3-pointer from Warner and a jumper from Wall as the Rams made a free throw. Law made a pair of free throws as did Jones to put the Scots on top 60-49 with 2:03 to play. Both teams made a single free throw over the next 90 seconds before Law made both at the line for the 63-50 final score.

Harlan had a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double to lead the Scots in both categories, Warner and Jones both had 13 points while Wall scored eight and Law had six. Wall added eight rebounds and five assists.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: The teams split last season with the home team winning both games. Monmouth won 55-50 on Feb. 15 after falling in Iowa 58-51 on Feb. 3. The Scots and Rams have split the last 10 games evenly. Cornell last won at Glennie Gym in February of 2019. Warner has scored in double digits in five of the last six games. Wall has at least eight points in seven straight games. Harlan has scored in double digits in six straight and she has at least nine points in eight straight games. Harlan has at least five rebounds in 16 of 17 games this season and three double-doubles. Jones has scored in double digits three times, all in the last six games and she has at least nine points in five of those six games. The Scots head on the road this weekend to start a 3-game road trip against Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin with a 1 p.m. start.