Short-handed Harper barely fall short

In an ordinary basketball game, a new player enters when another is in foul trouble.

"This wasn't the most ordinary basketball game," said Harper's Joslyn Nicholson.

Indeed.

The Hawks' women's basketball team had to play with four players after guard Kim Herzog (Buffalo Grove) fouled out with 11:53 remaining in Thursday's 70-68 loss to Ancilla College (Ind.).

Ancilla coach Tom Robbins was not pleased with the way his squad performed.

"We gave into (playing) one on four," he said.

Having been named NJCAA Division III player of the week Wednesday, Nicholson again was able to carry the Hawks' offense, scoring 41 points in 40 minutes. That's the best single-game performance since Monica Hinderer scored 35 points against Triton on Feb. 20, 2013.

"They doubted me," Nicholson said of the way Ancilla (8-5) defendeed her. "They let me get past them."

Lane Winkler (Rolling Meadows) had 11 points for the Hawks (6-8) and shot 3-for-7 from 3-point range.

Ancilla was led by freshman Khadijah Moore with 27 points, who shot 11-for-30 from the field, and Taylor Kuhnle had 13 points.

Despite the odd circumstances. Nicholson believes her team learned something from the experience.

"It taught us how to play in difficult game situations," she said.