Warren lines up a 'W'
Warren girls basketball coach John Stanczykiewicz said the Blue Devils had no choice but to make their free throws in the fourth quarter Monday at Mundelein.
"When you don't score a field goal, you have to generate offense somehow," he said.
Warren scored 12 points in the final quarter, on 12 of 16 shooting from the line, and that was enough for a 58-49 victory over the Mustangs.
Warren (12-0) stayed perfect on the season and improved to 6-0 in NSC Lake play. Mundelein dropped to 9-3, 2-2.
Blue Devils senior center Sarah Boothe scored a game-high 19 points and had 12 rebounds.
"Mundelein's style is tough to prepare for," Stanczykiewicz said. "All their players are a threat to score and create. We did a better job of slowing the game down in the second half."
Warren was the stronger team early, racing out to a 14-6 lead. The Blue Devils enjoyed a 19-11 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
"We dug a hole in the first five minutes, and then spent the rest of the game trying to get out of it," Mundelein coach Brian Evans said.
Mundelein chipped away in the second quarter and only trailed 27-22 at halftime. Mundelein's last 6 points of the half came on consecutive 3-pointers by sophomores Brooke Evans and Toni Knar.
Evans, whose playing time has been limited this season as she recovers from a knee injury, had her best game of the year. She drained two 3-pointers, scored 10 points and did a solid job defending Boothe.
"This was the most she's played," Brian Evans said. "She helped us tonight."
In the third quarter, Mundelein cuts its deficit to 30-27 on a 3-pointer by senior Samantha Panitch at the 5:55 mark. Warren closed the quarter on a 16-4 run. During this stretch, senior guard Shana Shepherd hit two of her three 3-pointers.
"My coached talked to me at halftime about getting more arc on my shot," Shepherd said.
Mundelein did not go away in the fourth quarter. Instead, the Mustangs drew to 47-42 at the 4:55 mark on a pair of free throws by junior J.J. Sawchuk.
On Warren's next possession, the Blue Devils went to a delay game, forcing Mundelein to come out of its zone defense. When Mundelein fouled, the Blue Devils took full advantage from the line.
Shepherd and senior Kristin Mierzejewski each had 10 points. This was the third consecutive game Mierzejewski has started.
"She's a pretty good defender and she hit some jumpers (tonight)," Stanczykiewicz said.
Panitch's 11 points paced Mundelein. Junior guard Kelsey O'Connor, who scored 37 points Saturday against Zion-Benton, had 6 points.
"They're legit," Stanczykiewicz said about Mundelein. "They're one of the best teams we've played all year."
Antioch 41, North Chicago 32: It was a balanced night for Antioch as eight players scored.
Christine Gaborek and Andi Potkonjak led the way with 9 points apiece. Gaborek also had 8 rebounds.
Katrina Holm added 8 points for the Sequoits, who move to 4-7 on the season.
Round Lake 65, Woodstock 48: Round Lake quickly erased a 3-point halftime deficit by outscoring Woodstock 22-6 in the third quarter.
Amber Phillips poured in 20 points to lead the way for Round Lake while teammate Labrenthia Murdock added 13 points.