Posted: Dec 30, 2024
#1 Kirkwood Defeats Palm Beach State
Kirkwood 71
Palm Beach State 42
Cougar Holiday
Peoria, IL
Top-ranked Kirkwood advanced to the championship game of the Cougar Holiday Tournament with a 71-42 victory over #12 Palm Beach State Sunday afternoon in Peoria, IL.
The Eagles jumped out a 10-0 lead over the first 3:12 of the game, thanks to seven straight points by sophomore Kaliyah Sain.
Kirkwood (14-0) put the clamps on the Panthers' offense in the first quarter, as they held a 21-8 lead after a quarter of play.
In the second quarter, the Eagle's defense continued to make things difficult for Palm Beach State, who came into the game averaging 67.5 points per game.
The Eagles would hold the Panthers to 5-32 (15.6%) from the floor in the first half and own a 35-17 lead at halftime.
Following halftime, sophomore Lizzy Puot capped off a 12-2 run to start the third quarter with an offensive rebound and putback.
The rebound was one of Puot's career-high 17 rebounds on the afternoon.
Kirkwood led 55-26 after the third quarter and would take their largest lead of the game midway through the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by freshman Kennedy Blakely at 63-31.
Sophomore Jenna Twedt led the Eagles in scoring with 17 points, while Sain added 15 points and Puot finished with 10.
Sophomores Jariah Harris and Ellah Kissell both finished with six points.
Freshman Olivia Wren had a solid all-around game, as she finished with five points, a career-high seven rebounds, and six assists.
The Eagles will square off against Schoolcraft (MI) Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the championship game.