Parhaus catches fire, ignites Harper

It was ladies night at the Harper College Sports and Wellness Center on Thursday.

The Hawks proved to be somewhat less than hospitable hosts, handing the College of Lake County (2-2) a 56-47 defeat in women's basketball.

The Hawks (3-2) took a 23-20 lead into the locker room at intermission despite not receiving a single point from all-N4C guard Peggie Parhas, a Lake Zurich graduate.

But on the Hawks' first position of the second half, Parhas drilled a 3-pointer, then scored on three straight Hawks possessions in the first 5:14 after the break. Parhas finished with 16 points.

"The guards (Siobhan Cerney (5 points), Noreen Davis (11 points,) and Anna Kirchoff 6 points) did a nice job of penetrating and passing," Davis said.

Davis also had 2 steals, Cerney chipped in a steal and Parhas stole the show with 4 steals and a blocked shot.

"Our post played better," said Hawks coach Mark Smith, referring to Harper's game Tuesday against Moraine Valley.

Fresh off the cross country season, Vicki Mista came off the Hawks bench to help control the boards.

"I was happy with the way Betsy (Baily from Palatine) played," Smith said about the 6-0 freshman.

Lancers guard Heather Ruethshenty (14 points) was able to help the Lancers (2-2) keep close to the Hawks, but in the end it was just too much Parhas.

The Hawks host Olive-Harvey on Saturday at 1 p.m. The Lancers travel to Joliet Junior College for a 1 p.m. tipoff.