Women's Basketball Has Win Streak End on the Road to IU-Kokomo

(Kokomo, IN)-- The Cleary Cougar women's basketball team returned to action after their Christmas break, and saw their five game winning streak end to the hands of the IU-Kokomo Cougars Tuesday afternoon in Indiana.

IU-Kokomo opened the game scoring four unanswered points.  Jess Andrew would hit a three to make it a one point game.  Andrew would give the Cougars a 5-4 lead one possession later.  The two teams would trade baskets for most of the remaining quarter's minutes.  Samantha Hoelscher would give Cleary a 10-9 lead after making a layup, and a Jess Andrew layup gave Cleary a three point lead.  IU-Kokomo would tie the game, setting up a Samantha Hoelscher layup gave the Cougars a two point advantage once again.  IU-Kokomo would tie the game on the quarter's final possession, and the score would be tied 14-14 at the first quarter break. 

A pair of Jess Andrew free throws would give Cleary an early second quarter lead.  The hosts would then go on a run, building a 21-16 lead, and forcing a timeout from Cleary.  The Cougars would fight back, scoring four unanswered points, but were unable to tie the game or take the lead.  IU-Kokomo would finish the half strong, and would go into the half leading the game 30-24.

Cleary would score four straight points from Izzy Dugal to start the second half, and then making it a two point deficit.  IU-Kokomo would hold a four point lead late in the quarter, and after Samantha Hoelscher made one of two free throws, Melanin Holman would make a three as time expired to tie the game at 36-36 heading into the fourth quarter.

Cleary would take the lead in the fourth quarter, after Samantha Hoelscher made a layup.  IU-Kokomo tied the game, and Jess Andrew would give the Cougars the lead once again.  The two teams traded baskets once again until the big blow was delivered with just under three minutes to play.  IU-Kokomo scored four straight points to take a late 50-46 lead late.  Cleary would be held in check down the stretch, and unable to overcome the deficit to tie or win the game, as IU-Kokomo would hand the Cougars their first loss in the last six games with a 57-53 score.

Samantha Hoelscher would lead the Cougars with a 17 point and 13 rebound performance.  Jess Andrew added 15 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double of her own.

The loss gives Cleary a 7-6 record to end the 2025 portion of their season.  The Cougars will return to WHAC-tion on Saturday, January 3, when they host the Rochester Christian Warriors at Gannon Gymnasium.  The game is set to begin at 1:00 PM.