Jones Nets 21 Points but Scots Fall at IC

by Nathan Baliva

MONMOUTH, Ill. (01/05/2025) — The Monmouth College women's basketball returned to Midwest Conference action on Saturday with a 75-50 loss at Illinois College (4-9, 1-3) The Fighting Scots (4-8, 1-2) got 21 points from Ashley Jones (Abingdon, Illinois) in the loss.

Jones scored the first points of the game and Kiersten Cox (Illinois City, Illinois) made it 4-0. Jones scored again to tie the game at both 6-6 and 8-8 before Kynlee Stearns (Gilson, Illinois) tied the game at 10. The Lady Blues went on a 9-2 run as Ella Goodrich (Minonk, Illinois) scored. Jones scored six of the Scots next eight points as IC led 28-20 after the first quarter.

Monmouth trailed by 14 when Jones scored their first basket of the second quarter. The Scots totaled just four field goals in the second quarter while Cox added a free throw. IC led 46-29 at halftime.

Monmouth made seven free throws in the third quarter with just three field goals. Jones and Brooklyn Sellers (Freeport, Illinois) both made three free throws and each added a basket. Illinois College pushed the lead to 62-43 after three quarters.

Monmouth's deficit grew to 24 before Stearns hit a 3-pointer. IC pushed the lead to 27 before Sellers scored with 4:10 to play. Averi Rangel (Moline, Illinois) scored Monmouth's final basket and the hosts answered for a 75-50 win.

Jones led the Scots with 21 points while Sellers and Stearns both had seven. Sellers grabbed eight rebounds and Cox had six. Stearns and Rangel both had two steals while Jones and Sellers blocked shots.

MONMOUTH MOMENTS: Jones has scored in double figures nine times this season, including five of the last six games ... She finished one point off a season and career high ... Cox made her first start of the season ... Sellers had a career-high in points (7) and rebounds (8) ... Monmouth was just 2-for-14 from 3-point range ... The Scots made 12-of-16 free throws ... The Scots have lost five straight to IC ... The teams will play in Monmouth on Feb. 5 ... The Scots stay on the road Wednesday with a game at Lawrence at 5:30 p.m. The next home game is Saturday, Jan 18 against Ripon.