PALATINE, Ill. – The Harper College women's basketball team turned in an excellent effort on the defensive end against visiting Elgin Community College on Monday evening. The Hawks held their opponents to just 25.8 percent shooting on their way to a 60-42 nonconference victory over the Spartans.

Elgin (4-9) led 26-24 at halftime behind 12 points and nine rebounds from top scorer Clarissa Ramos, but Harper (4-10) outscored the Spartans 17-9 in the third to take a 41-35 lead into the final frame.

After Rebecca Dumoulin buried a three to cut the Harper lead to just 41-40 with 8:47 remaining, the Hawks closed the game on a 19-2 run and held the Spartans without a point in the final 6 ½ minutes. Harper guard Jackie Stroud (Norridge, Ill. /Ridgewood) also caught fire, scoring 12 of her game-high 27 points in the final period. The Hawks outscored the Spartans 36-16 in the second half and held them to just 21.2 percent shooting (7-of-33).  

Harper shot 43.4 percent (23-of-53) for the game. Kim Herzog (/Buffalo Grove) scored 10 points, and Ashonte Sims (Bloomington, Ill. /Normal Community West) added nine points and seven rebounds.

The Hawks will now 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.