#3 Kirkwood Eagles Take Down #5 Illinois Central in Top-Five Showdown

EAST PEORIA, Ill. — In a marquee early-season matchup between two national powers, the #3 Kirkwood Eagles made a statement on the road with a 65–53 victory over #5 Illinois Central College on Saturday afternoon at Ramsey Gym. The win moves the Eagles to 2–0 on the season as they continue to build early momentum behind a deep, balanced lineup.

Balanced Attack Leads the Way

Kirkwood's depth once again proved to be the difference, as five players scored eight or more points in a complete team effort. Freshman forward Dasia Foster was a dominant presence inside, shooting 5-of-7 from the field for 10 points while grabbing seven rebounds and blocking two shots. Sophomore guard Olivia Wren also tallied 10 points, knocking down a pair of threes and adding three assists in 30 minutes of play.

Sophomore Aaliyah Riley continued her efficient scoring, finishing with 10 points on 3-of-5 shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. Point guard Kennedy Blakely flirted with a double-double, collecting seven rebounds and eight points to go along with two assists, helping orchestrate Kirkwood's offense throughout the contest.

Off the bench, Kaci Crum provided a key spark with 8 points and 6 rebounds in 18 minutes, while Madison Stowaterand Molly Roling each chipped in 4 points to help the Eagles' reserves outscore Illinois Central's bench 23–15.

Defense and Rebounding Dominate

Kirkwood's defensive intensity and control of the glass defined the game. The Eagles outrebounded Illinois Central 54–33, including an impressive 18 offensive boards that led to 18 second-chance points. The team's interior defense also limited the Cougars to just 30% shooting from the field and 13% from beyond the arc.

The Eagles' ability to execute defensively was highlighted in the third quarter, when they held Illinois Central to just 12 points while extending their lead with efficient shot-making and smart ball movement. Overall, Kirkwood shot 40% from the field and shared the ball well, recording 16 assists on 24 made field goals.

Momentum Builds for the Kirkwood Classic

With their second straight top-tier win to start the season, Kirkwood will look to keep rolling this weekend at home during the Kirkwood Classic in Johnson Hall. The Eagles will face Grand View University JV on Friday night at 7 p.m. before turning around to play Bryant & Stratton College on Saturday at 3 p.m.