Harper comes back to knock off Elgin
Elgin Community College had things pretty much its own way for the first 25 minutes. But the rest of the game belonged to Harper.
Peggie Parhas scored 20 points and Noreen Davis scored 13 of her 15 in the second half as the Hawks overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to down ECC, 64-57, in nonconference women's junior college basketball action in Elgin Wednesday.
The Spartans led 45-34 with just under 15 minutes left, but Davis scored 5 straight points to trigger a 10-1 run and get Harper within 2. After an old-fashioned 3-point play by Krissy Kunavich extended the Spartans' lead to 49-46, Harper (1-1) went on an 11-1 tear, going ahead 55-50 on Davis' driving layup.
"I thought we played really outstanding defense in the second half," said Harper coach Mark Smith. "We tried to push the girls on the block out a little more. When they got the ball, we got some help on that, and I don't know if we gave up a 3-pointer in the second half."
The Hawks forced 13 turnovers while holding ECC to 21 points in the second half.
Brittany Armato, Tracy Ferguson and Sophie Sterricker scored 12 points apiece to lead ECC, which was playing its fourth game in 8 days to start the season. Ferguson also had 7 rebounds off the bench. Lauren Gabler added 10 points for the Spartans.
Siobhan Cerney added 9 points, and Betsy Bailey had 8 points and 8 rebounds for the Hawks, but Parhas led the way on both ends of the court.
"I thought Peggie Parhas played a great game offensively and defensively," said Smith. "She got a lot of steals. She's just got a lot of basketball savvy."
After Harper went ahead 2-0 on a basket by Anna Kirchoff, the Spartans scored 13 straight points and appeared headed for a blowout. The first of Parhas' 5 3-pointers stopped the bleeding, but ECC led by at least 4 for the rest of the first half.
Elgin led 35-24 late in the first half but Harper scored the last 4 points of the half from the free-throw line. Davis converted 2 shots after ECC was assessed a technical for having too many players on the floor.
Harper continued the run after the break, getting within 36-32 on a steal and breakaway by Parhas. But a 3-point play by Armato ignited a 9-2 run that put the Spartans back ahead by double digits.