Milwaukee, Wis. - For their final road contest of the 2023-24 season, the Illinois Tech Scarlet Hawks women's basketball team traveled north to Milwaukee to take on the Alverno College Inferno in Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) action. The Hawks (5-18, 4-11) and Inferno (3-21, 1-14) battled back-and-forth through the whole game as there was a total of 9 ties and 15 lead changes in the contest. In the end, the Hawks were able to pull away with a 59-57 victory over the Inferno. 

First Half (Illinois Tech 30 - Alverno 28)

• Alverno started the contest with a three pointer at 9:01 on the clock before Illinois Tech went down the court to record a jumper. The Inferno immediately answered with a jumper of their own, taking a 5-3 lead at the 8:22 mark in the first quarter.  After a minute of no offensive action, the Inferno made a free throw, extending their lead by four. At 6:46, the Inferno made a layup before Julia Bucci went down the court for a layup of her own 10 seconds later. A jumper at 5:54 by the Inferno gave the home team a 10-4 lead over the Hawks. Another basket wouldn't be recorded until 2:55 when the Inferno made another jumper. With 1:56 remaining in the quarter, the Hawks Allie Sillo made a three pointer off a Camden Joko assist to make the score 12-7 in favor of the Inferno. The Inferno's final basket of the quarter came with 50 seconds on the clock when they recorded a jumper to take a 14-7 lead. A Goodnough jumper gave the Hawks nine points before a Joko three pointer at the buzzer made the game a 2-point contest. At the end of the first quarter the Inferno led 14-12. 

• Although a slow start to the second quarter, the Hawks got the action going with a Bucci three pointer at the 7:58 mark, giving the Hawks a 15-14 lead, their first lead of the contest. Between 7:29 and 6:57, Kaya Jones recorded two jumpers, while the Inferno had one of their own, leaving the Hawks ahead 19-16. At 5:58, the Hawks and Inferno were tied up at 19-19. A free throw by the Inferno at 4:46 put them ahead 20-19 and began a back-and-forth contest. Joko nailed a three pointer from a K. Jones assist with 2:30 remaining in the quarter to put the Hawks ahead 26-25. The Inferno then hit a three of their own before Goodnough tied the contest at 28-28 with a jumper. Bucci closed out the quarter with a jumper to give the Hawks a 30-28 lead at halftime. 

Second Half (Illinois Tech 29 - Alverno 29)

• Goodnough began the third quarter with a jumper to get the second half going. At the 7:36 mark, the Inferno came within one point after a jumper. Here, the Hawks led 33-32. Neither side then recorded a point until the Hawks made a jumper at the 5:51 mark. At 5:12, the Inferno came back within one point. Joko added four points for the Hawks with a jumper at 5:01 and two made free throws at 4:16. The game would then be tied at the 3:04 mark when the Inferno made a three pointer to make the score 39-39. Both sides then went on to record a basket, making the score 41-41 with 2:12 remaining in the quarter. A scoreless streak followed until K. Jones put the Hawks ahead with 57 seconds remaining off a free throw. Two free throws by the Inferno then at 42 seconds on the clock gave them a 1-point lead. The Hawks were able to end the quarter ahead though after two made free throws by Goodnough to make the score 44-43.

• The game remained close throughout the fourth quarter as it came down to the wire. Bucci got the quarter going with two made free throws at the 9:31 mark. A jumper by the Inferno put them within one at 9:21. The next basket then came out of the hands of Bucci at 7:53 when she made a three pointer to put the Hawks ahead 49-45. A scoreless streak followed before the Inferno made back-to-back baskets to tie the game at 49-49 with 5:12 remaining. After some back and forth, the Inferno briefly tied the game before taking a 1-point lead after two made free throws with just 1:31 remaining. With time ticking away, the Hawk were able to close out the game ahead by three points. Bucci put the Hawks ahead at the 26 second mark with a jumper before Joko made a free throw with just seven seconds remaining. On the road, the Hawks secured a 59-57 victory. 

Scarlet Hawk Standouts

• Julia Bucci - 20 points, 7-of-25 (28.0%) from the field, 2-of-11 (18.2%) from three, 4-of-6 (66.7%) from the free throw line, 8 rebounds

• Grace Goodnough - 14 points, 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the field, 2-of-2 (100%) from the free throw line, 5 rebounds, 1 steal

• Camden Joko - 11 points, 3-of-10 (30.0%) from the field, 2-of-6 (33.3%) from three, 3-of-4 (75.0%) from the free throw line, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

Inferno Standouts

• Shiauna Nixon-Boyd - 17 points, 7-of-20 (35.0%) from the field, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from three, 2-of-4 (50.0%) from the free throw line, 6 rebounds, 3 assists

• Dionna Woodson - 16 points, 6-of-9 (66.7%) from the field, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from three, 3-of-6 (50.0%) from the free throw line, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal 

• Kyla Jamerson - Double-double, 10 points, 4-of-12 (33.3%) from the field, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from three, 1-of-2 (50.0%) from the free throw line, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Inside the Box Score 

• The Hawks went 22-of-65 (33.8%) from the field, 5-of-25 (20.0%) from three, and 10-of-16 (62.5%) from the free throw line

• The Inferno went 23-of-60 (38.3%) from the field, 5-of-16 (31.3%) from three, and 6-of-12 (50.0%) from the free throw line

• The Inferno out-rebounded the Hawks 43-39

• The contest saw 9 ties and 15 lead changes

• Both sides ended with 5 steals a piece

• The Hawks picked up 15 points off turnovers

• Both the Hawks and the Inferno recorded 24 points in the paint 

Up Next

The Hawks close out the 2023-24 season on Saturday, February 17, when they welcome the Milwaukee School of Engineering Raiders to the Keating Sports Center for one final round of NACC action.