By Avanti Chajed & Andrew Lovdahl
Gargoyle staff reporters
Posted Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, The OG, sports

Jessi Sullivan takes aim against NCB.
(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

URBANA — The Normal Calvary Baptist Crusaders defeated the Illineks 48-36 on Monday night in a game that decided which team would take the No. 2 spot, for the time being, in the East Central Illinois Conference behind leader Decatur Lutheran.

The loss dropped Uni's record to 8-9 overall and 4-2 in the ECIC, while NCB is now 12-4, 4-1.

Last year the Crusaders finished second in the conference (8-2), while Uni tied for third with Judah Christian (5-5). Champion Decatur Lutheran was undefeated (10-0).

The game started close. Uni scored the first 4 points in the game and held the lead for most of the first quarter, but with 13 seconds left in the period NCB took the lead 11-10.

“We were fouling a lot early,” said sophomore forward Rachel Skoza, who was whistled multiple times in the first quarter.

The score remained at 11-10 well into the second period as both Uni and NCB missed scoring opportunities.

But once the Crusaders broke the drought, the visitors' lead continued to increase unabated to 21-10 until Skoza scored with 2:52 left in the half; junior guard Aran Yoo scored about a minute later. By halftime Uni was at a 27-14 disadvantage.

About midway through the third quarter, Uni pulled within striking distance, going on an 8-point run to narrow the score to 31-26.

However, the Crusaders scored two 3-point shots in barely a minute's time, and by the end of the period held a 14-point lead. The Illineks were able to chip away only 2 points from Normal's margin when the final buzzer sounded.

Skoza led the team in scoring with 12 points, followed by Yoo and sophomore Jessi Sullivan with 6 points each.

Junior guard Sarah Pfander pulled down 9 rebounds, while both Skoza and Sullivan finished with 7. Yoo came away with a team-high 5 steals.

Besides showing their clutch 3-point shooting ability, the Crusaders also demonstrated their skills on defense.

“Normal tracked really well,” said Skoza, referring to the multiple instances when a Uni pass sailing down the court was intercepted by a Crusader defender.

The team is back in action on Thursday, when conference opponent DeLand-Weldon visits. Uni defeated the Eagles by 38 on Dec. 14.

VARSITY RECORD: 8-9 overall, 4-2 East Central Illinois Conference
(Games at Kenney Gym in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks ready for season opener tonight

Nov. 16: Atwood-Hammond, W 37-35
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Illineks triumph in season opener

Nov. 18: Hoopeston (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 45-23
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 13 pts
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 18: Chrisman (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 50-48
— leading scorers: Rachel Skoza & Jessi Sullivan, 15 pts each
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 20: Blue Ridge (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 52-47
— leading scorer: Sarah Pfander, 13 pts
— story: Illineks down Blue Ridge in tournament action

Nov. 21: Oakwood (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 72-39
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Shorthanded Uni loses to undefeated Oakwood

Nov. 24: Milford (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 44-24
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes sixth in Thanksgiving Classic

Nov. 28: Shiloh, L 45-25
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 5 pts
— story: Uni drops third straight

Nov. 30: Villa Grove, game postponed because of bad weather

Dec. 5: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, L 34-23
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 9 pts
— story: Slump continues as Uni falls to PBL

Dec. 8: Decatur Lutheran, L 57-38 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Uni begins conference play with loss to defending champ

Dec. 9: Villa Grove, L 38-27
— leading scorer: Kaylie Dastrup, 9 pts
— story: Villa Grove hands Illineks fourth home defeat of season

Dec. 11: Judah Christian, W 44-29 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 13 pts
— story: Illineks end six-game losing streak

Dec. 14: at DeLand-Weldon, W 64-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Illineks win by 38

Dec. 16: LeRoy, W 43-33
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 18 pts
— story: Girls basketball: Skoza, Yoo lead Uni to third straight win

Jan. 2: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 57-19 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 12 pts
— story: Four players score in double figures as Uni gets back to .500

Jan. 4: at Decatur Christian, W 53-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 15 pts
— story: Uni wins fifth straight game, record improves to 8-7

Jan. 6: Fisher, L 52-41
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 15 pts
— story: Fisher ends Uni winning streak

Jan. 8: Normal Calvary Baptist, L 48-36 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 12 pts
— story: see above

Remaining games: see schedule

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent