Elk Grove 38, Rolling Meadows 35

Elk Grove was in big trouble after leading scorer Ashley Capotosto was whistled for her fifth foul with 5:39 remaining and the Grenadiers trailing visiting Rolling Meadows 33-29.

But Leah Miller came to the rescue for the Grens.

The 5-foot-9 freshman scored 7 of her game-high 11 points after Capotosto went to the bench, including a go-ahead putback with 15 seconds remaining leading Elk Grove to 38-35 Mid-uburban East come-from-behind victory.

"She's been getting in, in spurts," said Elk Grove coach Jim Wills of Miller. "But she grew up today."

Elk Grove (6-3, 1-1) shot 24 percent (12-of-49) from the floor, but the Grenadiers made up for their shooting by corralling 15 offensive rebounds, with Miller scoring all 3 of her fourth-quarter field goals on putbacks.

"We always want to play the weak side, because you never know what will happen," said Miller.

"I thought we had good rebounding position," said Rolling Meadows coach Patrick O'Connell. "But somehow they managed to get the rebounds from behind us."

Rolling Meadows (2-7, 0-2) was coming off a 2-point loss to South Elgin on Thursday night.

But behind the scoring of senior Shannon McGuire (10 points) and senior Jenna Milas (10 points), the Mustangs forged ahead by 9 points early in the third quarter.

Then Capotosto, who tied Miller with a game-high 11 points, scored 7 points to help narrow the deficit to 33-27 entering the final quarter.

With Capotosto seeing limited action due to foul trouble and with Liezl Aluquin leading a swarming Mustangs defense, the Grenadiers were back on their heels for the first three quarters.

"They were just really scrappy," said Elk Grove point guard Olivia Roback of a Mustangs defense that forced 11 Grenadier turnovers in the first three quarters. "They went after the ball and we weren't holding on to it."

But Elk Grove turned the tables in the final quarter, limiting the Mustangs to 1 of 10 from the field, and with Miller attacking the offensive boards, the Grens made their move -- even with Capotosto on the bench.

"They (Rolling Meadows) probably thought they had it in the bag when Ashley (Capotosto) fouled out," said Roback whose 2 free throws with four seconds remaining iced the victory. "But Miller stepped up big time today."

Kristy Ottosen (5 points) and Roback (7 points) added to Elk Grove's attack.

"It could have gone either way," said O'Connell. "I wish we could have hit a few more shots, but I'm real proud of the way the kids played."

Maine West 47, Highland Park 36:ŒHost Maine West improved to 8-2 and 3-0 in the Central Suburban North as Erin Baumstark (12 points, 7 rebounds) and Colleen Vana (10 points, 4 assists, 4 rebouns) each reached double figures.

Samantha Acosta (9 points, 3 assists), Mary Kusner (8 points, 10 rebounds) and Brittany Begrowicz (8 points, 3 rebounds in about 16 minutes) ere also key contributors.