NO.1 EAGLES SUFFER FIRST LOSS OF SEASON

EAST PEORIA, Ill. - Thirteen proved to be an unlucky number for the Kirkwood women's basketball team Thursday.

The top-ranked Eagles began the season with 13 straight victories, but the streak ended Thursday afternoon with a 71-67 loss to fifth-ranked Illinois Central in overtime in the championship game of the 40th Annual Illinois Central Holiday Tournament.

Kirkwood and Illinois Central (8-6) have traded four-point victories this season. The Eagles trimmed Illinois Central, 64-60, on Nov. 13.

Kirkwood trailed by eight points midway through the fourth quarter Thursday, but the Eagles finished the stanza with a 12-4 run and tied the game, 59-59, on a 3-pointer by Kortney Drake with 8.2 seconds left in regulation.

Illinois Central outscored the Eagles in overtime, 12-8.

Ashley Tull led Kirkwood with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Karsyn Stratton netted 12 points, Tatiana Hodges-Johnson contributed 11 points and Tasia Jordan had 10.

Tull and Drake made the all-tournament team.

Kirkwood defeated 10th-ranked Bryant & Stratton, 84-58, in the semifinals Wednesday. Drake canned seven 3-pointers and scored a career-best 23 points in that game.