PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College women's basketball team nearly erased a 19-point second half deficit as they closed the gap to 59-56 early in the fourth quarter against visiting Kennedy-King College. However, the Statesmen used a 13-5 run to extend the lead back to double digits on their way to an 81-68 nonconference victory over the Hawks at the Wellness & Sports Center.

Kennedy-King (11-6) led 41-28 at halftime and took its biggest lead of the game, 54-35, on a Kendra Sole layup with 5:54 to play in the third quarter. The Hawks (4-10) closed the quarter on a 19-5 run and trailed 59-53 after three.

That's when Harper point guard Kim Herzog (/Buffalo Grove) (14 points, five assists) buried her lone 3-pointer of the night to cut the Statesmen lead in half. But that's when Kennedy-King took control, led by sophomore forward Rashawnda Rogers, who scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter and grabbed eight boards in the frame. Tashawn Ducker also scored six points in the fourth to cap off an impressive performance in which she scored 27 points in 26 minutes off the bench.

The Hawks got as close as six points as Lane Winkler (Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows) split a pair of free throws with 2:38 remaining to make it 74-68, but the Statesmen closed the game on a 7-0 run as Harper was 0-of-7 from the field down the stretch.

Jackie Stroud (Norridge, Ill. /Ridgewood) led Harper with 19 points (7-of-19 shooting) and also grabbed six rebounds. Sophomore forward Ashonte Sims (Bloomington, Ill. /Normal Community West) scored a season-best 14 points and snatched nine rebounds. As a team, Harper shot 34.7 percent (25-of-72) from the field. Kennedy-King shot 45.5 percent (30-of-66)

The Hawks play host to Elgin Community College (4-8) on Monday night at 5 PM. The Hawks will then focus their attention on North Central Community College Conference (N4C) play. Harper opens its N4C slate at home against No. 4 Rock Valley College (11-5) on Wednesday evening at 5 PM.