Harper women have Wright stuff

Tuesday's regularly scheduled game with Wright College was postponed do to inclement weather, but that didn't seem to bother Harper's women's basketball team much.

Four Harper sophomores took the tartan court at the Sports and Wellness Center on the campus of Harper College in Palatine for the final time in the regular season Thursday night, and the Hawks came away with a 67-58 North Central Community College Conference victory.

With freshman forward Betsy Bailey (Palatine) already out for the season with a knee injury, sophomore Victoria Mikszta (Hoffman Estates) also did not play due to a knee injury of her own. That meant coach Mark Smith's starters had to go the full 40 minutes.

Freshman Anna Kirchoff (Barrington) stole the show for Harper (17-8, 8-3), finishing with team-best 28 points after shooting 5-for-10 from 3-point range.

"I think it helped," Kirchoff said of Tuesday's postponement. "We just relaxed and played our game."

Harper guard Peggie Parhas finished with a double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds).

The Rams (15-11, 6-4) tried to use the region's leading scorer, 5-foot-10 sophomore center Roxxanne Jones (21.1 points per a game) as their first scoring option, but Harper held her to 14 points.

The win ensures the Hawks' first winning season in the North Central Community College Conference since the 2001-2002 season.

Bailey is scheduled to have knee surgery Wednesday.