Trailblazers tested by No. 8 Illinois Central in Region 24 matchup
Godfrey, Ill. — Lewis and Clark Community College women's basketball head coach Isaac Moore said his team showed flashes of its national-level potential but also revealed areas that must improve following its matchup against eighth-ranked Illinois Central College.
Competing in NJCAA Region 24 means facing elite competition on a regular basis, Moore said, and Illinois Central is a prime example.
"One of the best things about being in Region 24 is that you get to consistently play against the best teams in the nation," Moore said. "ICC came in ranked No. 8, but they have a real shot to win it all."
Despite the challenge, Moore pointed to strong individual performances from La'Tasja and Abby Kreitner as signs the Trailblazers can compete with top programs. La'Tasja led Lewis and Clark with 15 points, while Kreitner added 14 points and reached a milestone by scoring her 500th career point.
"I loved their fight and attention to detail," Moore said. "ICC had game planned against both of them not allowing them to get anything easy, but both of them trusted the offense and had success against one of the best defensive teams at this level."
Defensively, Moore said Lewis and Clark began the game well but struggled to maintain consistency as the contest progressed.
"We started out doing a good job of defending their plethora of offensive weapons, but our effort waned as the game went on," Moore said. "We need to do a better job of maintaining intensity when shots don't fall and things aren't going our way."
Looking ahead, Moore emphasized that defensive execution will be a primary focus in practice as the Trailblazers prepare for the second half of conference play. While Lewis and Clark has proven it can score against top Region 24 opponents, closing out games remains a challenge.
"We've beat John Wood before, but to do it again, we need to improve on the defensive end of the floor," Moore said. "As we begin the second half of conference play, I'd like to see us connect some of those dots and demonstrate the toughness necessary to win games in the best region in the country."
Trailblazers play at home against John Wood on February 7th at 1pm at River Bend Arena.
Written by: Alexandra Dunn, Athletics Social Media Coordinator