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Women's Basketball

Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference Champions
1987, 1988, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

NJCAA Region IV Champions
1987, 1988

NJCAA Region IV Runners-Up
2007, 2009

March 22, 2013
Cyclones end season on low note, but forecast bright for next season

It wasn’t the kind of season they wanted, but the Cyclones played an over .500 season with a group of players determined to return next season with lessons learned and stronger skills.

After a 30-game season, you are who you are, said head coach Delwyn Jones, who finished his 13th-year at the helm. Overall the Cyclones were 17-13 and were fourth in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference with a 7-7 record. “We had a decent year. It was a down season for us though because we didn’t win over 20 games. Our record is what it is; we lost 13 but won 17. Some teams we beat are saying the same thing as us. When you play 30 games, you are what you are,” Jones said.

The Cyclones screeched to a halt in the NJCAA Region IV quarter finals in a 63-59 loss to Morton College, which they split wins with this season. In Jones’ tenure, this was the first time since 2002 that the Cyclones have lost in the first round of playoffs.

“It was disappointing because I expected to win that last game. But there were some things we preached all year that haunted us as far as expectations were concerned. There were a lot of mistakes, fouls down the stretch, and that hurt us,” Jones said. “People said we should have been this or that, but we are who our record is.”

Disappointment aside, several players made an impact on the court. Stephanie Karl (Lockport) was one of the best point guards Jones has had on the team. Her smarts during games were invaluable, earning her a nod to the All-Conference first team. Bridget Niemiec (Oak Lawn) was a workhouse who also played smart ball. Kelly Foley (Oak Lawn) averaged 14 points per game and was the leading scorer, in addition to being named to the All-Conference first team. Shaneka Boyd (Rich South) was quite an athlete, keeping Moraine Valley in many games with her defense and rebounds.

The freshmen who intend on returning next season have high character and learned from this year’s mistakes with the knowledge of what needs to be done to improve, Jones said. Katie McGann (Providence), who was named to the All-Conference second team, was an underrated player this season, but demonstrated strength around the basket. Maggie Yandel (Stagg) knew how to put the pressure on and was one of the most athletic players on the team. Ashley Cunningham (Eisenhower) used her high basketball IQ and will be an asset next year. Jamilla Jones (Eisenhower) was the leading rebounder while Camille Byrd (Harlan) was a quick forward. Amber Hunter (Evergreen Park) should return even stronger next season at center.

“We will win 20 games next year, guaranteed, if we stay healthy and keep the core back from this year,” Jones said. “We’ll win 20 and hopefully go further. Any good recruits, and we’ll be dangerous.”

March 1, 2013
Cyclones stalled in playoffs

The Cyclones needed a win Feb. 28 in the NJCAA Region IV playoffs against Morton College to extend their season, but turnovers and missed opportunities did Moraine Valley in, contributing to the 63-59 loss.

The conference rivals split wins in their two meetings this season, so the game could have gone either way. Each squad was within five points from start to finish, but Morton was able to hold off down the stretch. The Panthers’ 37 opportunities at the free-throw line, which yielded 25 points, were tough for the Cyclones to overcome. However, it was critical turnovers, some point-blank missed layups and poor shot selections that cost Moraine Valley.

“I was proud of how the Cyclones fought, especially in the second half, but was disappointed with the execution,” said head coach Delwyn Jones. “In the playoffs it’s do or die, and the team that makes the right decisions down the stretch in a close game normally wins.”

Stephanie Karl played a tremendous game and scored 10 of her 12 points in the second half. Kelly Foley also added 12 points while Maggie Yandel chipped in with 10.

“It was a fun season and a pleasure to work with a good group of young women. We have six talented returning players and some recruits coming in that gives me sincere high hopes for a rebound season in 2013-14,” Jones said. The Cyclones finished with a 17-13 record.

February 20, 2013
Cyclones can’t hang on

In another hard-fought battle, the Cyclones kept things interesting on their home court Feb. 19 but came up short in a 58-53 loss to Prairie State College.

Coming out strong the Cyclones built a 7-0 run to start the game before some back and forth play saw the Cyclones up by a narrow 25-23 lead at halftime. Turnovers and sloppy passing hurt Moraine Valley early in the second half, as they quickly fell behind. The three-point killer, Kelly Foley, helped her team inch back in the game, hitting one at the 1:52 mark so the Cyclones were down 54-51. Shaneka Boyd added a layup to get her team within one. However, some last minute missed shots, fouls and turnovers kept the Cyclones from surging ahead. Foley finished with 17 points, including five 3-pointers, while Katie McGann chipped in 12 points.

February 17, 2013
Charging Cyclones grab win

The Cyclones came out of the gates ready to play Feb. 16, and it showed in their 57-49 victory over McHenry County College.

Moraine Valley built a 10-point lead midway through the half and never was really challenged after that. McHenry got back to within seven a few times, but the Cyclones always responded with a big 3-pointer or a timely steal and led by as much as 14 before settling for the eight-point victory.

Kelly Foley helped the Cyclones out with 15 points while Katie McGann chipped in with 11 including three second half 3-pointers to help secure the victory. Bridget Niemiec scored seven points, but led with 12 rebounds. Shaneka Boyd contributed eight points and seven rebounds.

February 15, 2013
Offensive rebounds hurt ’Clones

Offensive rebounding was a thorn in the Cyclones’ side on Feb. 14, and in large part contributed to their 70-62 loss to Waubonsee Community College.

Overall the Cyclones played well. Defense was solid and the offense moved the ball better. Moraine Valley took care of the ball giving up only 13 turnovers for the game. However, 20 offensive rebounds hurt the squad which gave up 26 points and scored just five points off turnovers. In every other facet of the game Moraine Valley beat Waubonsee, but it still resulted in a loss.

Kelly Foley led the Cyclones with 16 points. Stephanie Karl played another well-rounded game with 14 points, eight assists and five rebounds while Bridget Niemiec chipped in with 11 points, four assists and three steals.

February 13, 2013
Hoopsters fall short

The Cyclones might have had a balanced attack against Elgin Community College on Feb. 12, but fell short in a 63-51 loss.

Moraine Valley came out slow, with a lack of energy or spark, and fell behind 20-7. The offense struggled for the first 12 minutes; however, the Cyclones gained some steam on a 14-4 run. Two costly turnovers in the last 40 seconds of the half allowed Elgin two break-away layups to surge ahead 29-21 at halftime.

The Cyclones found some strength in the second half, getting to within three points with five minutes to go. After two key missed layups by the Cyclones and deep three-pointers from the Spartans, Moraine Valley couldn’t gain ground.

Despite the loss, the Cyclones had balanced scoring. Kelly Foley and Dena Hammad had 10 points each. Raynisha Dent added eight points and Shaneka Boyd chipped in seven—all in the second half. Everyone who played scored. The balanced effort is a good element to maintain going forward in the playoffs, said coach Delwyn Jones.

February 11, 2013
Cyclones avenge earlier loss with big win

Despite the loss of some key starting players, the Cyclones avenged an earlier season loss to College of Lake County in a 75-60 victory on Feb. 9.

The Cyclones were without leading scorer Kelly Foley and second leading rebounder Shaneka Boyd, but Stephanie Karl and Katie McGann stepped up their games. Karl put her foot on the gas with two 3-pointers and 12 first half points to help Moraine Valley jump out to an early lead. The Cyclones led the entire first half, maintaining a 10-point lead that ballooned to 14. However, a 10-0 run by the Lancers before halftime cut the lead to four.

Moraine Valley opened up another double-digit lead to start the second half thanks in part to McGann's three 3-point shots. The Cyclones were up by as much as 19 points before the buzzer.

Karl led the team with 21 points, going 11-for-13 from the free-throw line which highlighted her aggressive play. McGann added 18 points with 13 from the second half, as well as nine rebounds. Bridget Niemiec was steady throughout with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

February 6, 2013
Poor start hurts Cyclones

A horrible start kept the Cyclones down Feb. 5 as they fell 68-55 to Morton College.

Moraine Valley was down 14-1 from the get-go due in part to Morton’s quick scoring on its first five possessions. After that, the Cyclones never really recovered. Down 10 at the half, the Cyclones fought to within three points, but couldn’t get over the hump. Moraine Valley attempted to foul down the stretch, but Morton cashed in at the free-throw line for the 13-point victory.

Kelly Foley led with 12 points while Stephanie Karl and Bridget Niemiec added 10 points apiece.

February 1, 2013
Cyclones handle Oakton

Although the Cyclones still had some offensive struggles on Jan. 31, they were able to hold off Oakton Community College for the 51-33 victory.

Moraine Valley’s offense struggled early, but a few late first half 3-pointers helped put on a late surge for a 29-24 halftime lead. Kelly Foley, Katie McGann and Stephanie Karl led the way in the first half with two three-point shots each.

The second half did not see an offensive explosion by either team, but Oakton had trouble with the man-to-man pressure from Moraine Valley and scored only nine points coming after a 5-0 run to tie the game at 29. After Oakton tied it, the Cyclones went on a 22-4 run to close out the game.

Foley led the way with 14 points while Maggie Yandel and Karl added 12 points each. Karl also added seven rebounds and seven assists.

January 30, 2013
Back to the drawing board for 'Clones

Injuries have recently plagued the Cyclones. A couple more injured players were added to the list Jan. 29 when the team fell 63-31 to Prairie State College.

Moraine Valley struggled on the offensive end to start the game, falling behind early. Down 20-8, the Cyclones went on a 10-2 run fueled by two Kelly Foley 3-pointers and a Kathleen Smock offensive rebound to get back within four by halftime.

However, Prairie State had a 6-0 run to start the second half that put the Cyclones down 10 and kept them chasing the rest of the game. After losing key players Shaneka Boyd late in the first half and Raynisha Dent early in the second half to injuries, the Cyclones struggled defensively in the paint and on the perimeter, losing any momentum. Moraine Valley continued to fight, keeping the deficit to no more than 10 points before the onslaught began at the eight minute mark with turnovers and easy Pioneer baskets on the break.

The leading scorer on the night was Foley with eight points. “It’s back to the drawing board as Moraine Valley is now without five major rotation players that it had to start the season,” coach Delwyn Jones said.

January 28, 2013
Cyclones take Bulldogs

The Cyclones tacked on a solid win to their record in a 67-54 victory over South Suburban College at home Jan. 26.

Moraine Valley started out strong, with an early 31-16 lead. After a three-game shooting slump, several players finally started to hit a few shots from the perimeter, led by Kelly Foley, Bridget Niemiec and Katie McGann. Maggie Yandel got loose on a few break away layups as the Bulldogs struggled to score early. By halftime, Moraine Valley led 34-26.

Starting the second half, the Cyclones scored first to get a little breathing room, but South Suburban hung tight. In those few moments throughout the game when the Bulldogs came within six points, the Cyclones responded with 3-point bombs to extend the lead again. Back-to-back threes by Foley and McGann helped put the nail in the coffin late in the second half as Moraine Valley settled for the 13-point victory.

Foley led in scoring with 18 points while Niemiec was aggressive on both ends of the floor with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Stephanie Karl finished with eight points, 14 assists and five rebounds. Shaneka Boyd and McGann were active defensively all night, each finishing with six points.

January 25, 2013
Narrow win over Chiefs

Moraine Valley moved one game over .500 in the conference Jan. 24 with a 54-48 win over Waubonsee Community College.

Waubonsee jumped to an 11-2 lead as they came out on fire while Moraine Valley missed some point-blank shots. After everything settled down, the Cyclones stormed back to tie things up with a 9-0 run fueled by a string of 3-pointers by Kelly Foley, Katie McGann and Stephanie Karl. Moraine Valley forged ahead and maintained the lead for the rest of the half, but could not extend it by more than eight. By halftime, the Cyclones were holding a slim 25-24 lead. With a series of nifty moves around the basket, Bridget Niemiec led the team in scoring in the first half with eight points.

The second half was more of the same with the Cyclones lead extending to nine points, but never more than that. Moraine Valley was never out of danger, but settled with the six-point victory.

Foley led in scoring with 12 points including three 3-pointers. McGann chipped in with 10 points including three 3-pointers and seven rebounds.

January 23, 2013
’Clones fall to Spartans

Facing Elgin Community College is always a battle for the Cyclones, one they couldn’t conquer on Jan. 22.

Although the Cyclones lost 57-39, it was not indicative of the effort and battle throughout the game. Moraine Valley started out solid, led by Kelly Foley’s 3-point shooting and some effective fast breaks. Initially off to a 9-2 start, the Cyclones offense stalled after that, but fortunately the Spartans also struggled offensively. Moraine Valley continued to lead for the entire first half, but just could not pull away. “Four baskets were waived off from the board due to traveling calls; one on a breakaway layup with no defenders. I estimated just with those possessions, we could have led 33-20 at the half, but only had a 25-20 advantage,” said coach Delwyn Jones.

The second half proved to be atrocious for the Cyclones as they scored only two points during a 15-minute span thanks to a Bridget Niemiec bucket in the paint. The 25-20 lead quickly turned into a 34-27 deficit with five minutes to go. As Moraine Valley started to find the rim, so did Elgin. Down the stretch, Elgin went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line as Moraine Valley fouled to try to get back in the game.

Shaneka Boyd led the Cyclones with 12 points and Foley scored all 10 of her points in the first half. Stephanie Karl chipped in with eight points.

January 18, 2013
Cyclones streak broken

A streak is broken. In their lowest scoring game of the season, the Cyclones fell 49-42 to College of Lake County on Jan. 17, the first time in 22 games they lost to the Lancers.

Both teams struggled to score in the first half as each shot around 25 percent from the floor. A late surge gave Moraine Valley a 21-16 first half lead. However, Lake County came out with a 5-0 run to tie the game after halftime. The Cyclones continued to miss point-blank shots and turned the ball over in transition, helping the Lancers extend the lead to 37-31 with four minutes to go. A Moraine Valley 9-4 run helped the Cyclones close the gap to 41-40. A clutch 2-point short baseline jumper made it 43-40 for the Lancers. After a failed 3-point attempt by Moraine Valley followed by a foul, Lake County hit the free throws to close the game out.

Katie McGann led the Cyclones with 14 points while Stephanie Karl chipped in with 11. Bridget Niemiec added nine points and led in rebounding with 10.

January 17, 2013
Kelly Foley named Region IV player of the week

Kelly Foley was recently named Region IV Player of the Week after a 35-point scoring game, the third highest for a single game in Moraine Valley’s history.

Foley scored 35 points in a Cyclones victory against Lincoln College on Jan. 9. She hit her first nine shots taken including her first four 3-pointers and was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Her 23 points in the first half ranked second in school history for most points in a half. Overall, she was 11-of-15 from the floor including 5-of-6 from the 3-point line. Foley also led Moraine Valley in scoring against Morton College on Jan. 12 with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. In two games, Foley scored 47 points and had six rebounds, eight assists and six steals.

"Kelly Foley is capable of scoring 30 points on any night. She has the ability to light it up when she is on. Foley is a pure scorer and that's what we need for her to do for us to be effective. When she is taking good shots, she is one of the best shooters around,” said head coach Delwyn Jones. “Foley scores in a variety of ways: on the break, attacking the basket from a half court set and from behind the arc. When she hit her first shot, I knew she was going to have a good game, but she kept making them until she hit nine consecutive shots from the floor. She also was 4-for-4 from the free throw line. She put in every shot she took in the first half including free throws. Having 35 points on 15 field goal attempts is pretty impressive. She also is a much improved free throw shooter and a very underrated defender. One of the better scorers we've had since Sharnita Lloyd and Nicole Wilk.”

January 16, 2013
Cyclones topple Scots

It was a battle ’til the end, but the Cyclones earned their second conference victory Jan. 15 with a 58-55 win over McHenry County College.

The Scots gave the Cyclones more trouble than expected, and both teams fought hard throughout the game. Each squad took turns going on runs in the first half, but neither led by more than six points resulting in a 28-28 tie at the half. Katie McGann’s two 3-pointers led the way as she totaled eight points.

In the second half, the Cyclones came out strong and hit McHenry with an 8-0 run to lead 36-28, seemingly poised to put the game away. However, McHenry’s 6-foot forward and small forward picked up the scoring slack to get back in the game. At the six-minute mark, the Scots were up by six and seemed to seize all the momentum until an aggressive Raynisha Dent started attacking the basket and created havoc for McHenry’s defense. The increased pressure created a number of steals and a few layups for Moraine Valley. A huge 3-point shot by Kelly Foley gave her team the lead with 1:04 to go in the game, helping keep the Cyclones ahead for the win.

January 14, 2013
Big opening conference win for ’Clones

The Cyclones opened conference play Jan. 12 with a big 57-42 win over Morton College.

The first half saw the Cyclones only up by seven before halftime. An 8-0 run to start the second half put Moraine Valley ahead where they stayed until the buzzer. Shaneka Boyd led the team with 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kelly Foley added 12 while Stephanie Karl dropped nine points. Amber Hunter had eight points and eight rebounds, and Maggie Yandel scored nine.

January 10, 2013
Cyclones score big over Lincoln

The Cyclones continued their winning ways in 2013 with a 73-62 victory over Lincoln College on Jan. 9.

Moraine Valley struggled briefly and fell behind before stepping up the defense. A 26-4 run gave the Cyclones a 39-26 lead by the half thanks in part to Kelly Foley’s 23 points. At its pinnacle, the lead swelled to 23 points in the second half before a late Lincoln rally closed the gap but conceded to the Cyclones.

Foley led with 35 points, the third highest amount scored in one game in school history. Shaneka Boyd poured in 18 points, grabbed seven boards and had five steals while Stephanie Karl had nine assists.

January 5, 2013
Cyclones open 2013 with crushing win

Jumping into the second half of the season, the Cyclones got off to a strong start. An ugly first half did not deter the Cyclones Jan. 4 as they crushed Wright College 64-23.

Moraine Valley struggled in the first half, shooting poorly and uncharacteristically turning the ball over often. After a 15-4 lead, Wright went on a 16-13 run to shrink the lead to eight at the half. After the Cyclones went to man-to-man play in the second half, Wright struggled to score. Moraine Valley surged ahead with a 20-0 run to put the game away and held Wright to only three points in the second half.

December 19, 2012
Tough defeat for 'Clones

From the onset it looked like Moraine Valley suffered a big loss Dec. 18 against Malcolm X, but the 71-46 defeat is not an indicator of the game. Up 17-9 at one point in the first half, some questionable calls continued to plague the game until the final buzzer, said coach Delwyn Jones.

December 17, 2012
Cyclones sparks earn win

It was another win tallied for Moraine Valley. A couple of sparks helped the Cyclones to a 64-56 victory over Black Hawk College at home on Dec. 15.

Both teams got off to a poor start with missed shots and turnovers in the opening 10 minutes. The Cyclones led most of the game, but the lead was small until Maggie Yandel came in mid-way through the first half. With her energetic play off the bench, she created a spark with steals and break away layups allowing Moraine Valley's lead to increase to 25-21 at the half.

It was Shaneka Boyd's energetic defense that sparked the second half thanks to a few steals and deflections. Although Kelly Foley struggled with her perimeter game, her two second-half 3-pointers helped propel the Cyclones to victory.

With Bridget Niemiec in foul trouble the entire game, Dena Hammad and Raynisha Dent stepped up to play some big minutes. Hammad’s two offensive rebounds and put backs helped hold off a late Black Hawk run. Foley led the team in scoring with 15 points followed closely by Yandel with 14.

December 7, 2012
Cyclones edge out Wolves

Despite a slow start and some close calls, the Cyclones eked out a 62-59 win over Joliet Junior College on Dec. 6.

Early on the Cyclones fell behind 9-2 while the Wolves maintained a four to six point lead over most of the game. Shaneka Boyd helped carry the Cyclones with an eight-point scoring barrage in about five minutes of play. At halftime the Cyclones were down 33-28.

Moraine Valley scored the first five points of the second half to tie it at 33, but didn’t take back the lead until 12 minutes to go. Once again Joliet surged with an 8-0 run to go ahead 58-53, seemingly taking control of the game. Several put backs by Jamilla Jones and crafty points in the paint by Bridget Niemiec had the Cyclones roaring back. Joliet had a good look at a failed 3-point shot at the buzzer, sealing the Cyclones win. Kelly Foley and Jones led with 15 points, Niemiec added 10 and Boyd finished with eight.

December 3, 2012
Cyclones split weekend tourney

After a slow start, the Cyclones were able to find their game and split the weekend in the Black Hawk East Tournament, Dec. 1-2.

Moraine Valley faced Highland Community College on Dec. 1. After hitting the first bucket of the game, the Cyclones stalled and shot 2-for-18. By halftime the Cyclones worked their way back into the game and were down 23-22. Leading scorer Kelly Foley was held scoreless in the first half, but freshman Katie McGann picked up the slack scoring eight points along with Bridget Niemiec who scored seven.

The second half was a battle. Moraine Valley was up 48-47 with 20 seconds to go thanks to a driving left-handed layup by Niemiec. Highland came back and scored the game winning bucket after a timeout and a desperate 3-point attempt by the Cyclones at the buzzer. Foley scored 12 points in the second half, but didn't have much help as the Cyclones fell 49-48 to Highland.

Foley led the team with 12 points followed by Niemiec with 11 and McGann who scored 10. Jamilla Jones continued her dominant rebounding with 13 boards. Stephanie Karl had five assists and only one turnover as she continued doing a solid job handling the ball.

After a tough loss to Highland, Moraine Valley bounced back with a 57-52 win against a good Black Hawk East team.

The Cyclones had a better start, going up 7-2 to start the game. Black Hawk East battled back to take the lead, but not for long as the lead went back and forth. Just before the half buzzer, Black Hawk hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 24.

Although Black Hawk started the second half with a 6-0 run, a few Camille Byrd 3-pointers kept the Cyclones close. The game remained tight before the Cyclones got a little breathing room. Some clutch free throws down the stretch kept Moraine Valley ahead for the win.

Byrd finished with 12 points, including three second-half 3-pointers. Foley chipped in with 11 points while Jones contributed 10 points and 15 rebounds. Balanced play by the Cyclones saw nine of 10 players on the court scoring points.

November 30, 2012
Cyclones denied by Trinity

The Cyclones had their work cut out for them Nov. 29 when they faced Trinity International University, a squad that played mostly juniors and seniors. Moraine Valley stayed tough, but lost 76-66.

By halftime the Cyclones tied it up at 30. Throughout the second half, the lead went back and forth until Trinity pulled away on a 12-2 run to close out the game. Kelly Foley led with 22 points while Jamilla Jones and Katie McGann chipped in with 12 points. Playing against upperclassmen was a good learning experience and good preparation early in the season, said coach Delwyn Jones.

November 28, 2012
Cyclones edge out Chaparrals

Although the final score may be tight, the Cyclones led nearly the entire game up until their 57-55 win on Nov. 27 over College of DuPage.

The Cyclones started off on a 22-8 run, but not before the Chaparrals had a 3-point barrage for a 25-24 lead. By halftime, Moraine Valley narrowly led 26-25 and stayed ahead for most of the second half. A big Katie McGann 3-pointer gave the Cyclones a 54-50 lead, propelling them to the win.

Kelly Foley led the troops with 17 points while Bridget Niemiec and McGann chipped in with nine points each. Moraine Valley was 12-for-15 from the line.

November 21, 2012
Cyclones fall in final minutes

Whenever the Cyclones play Kankakee Community College, it’s always a contentious matchup. Despite their fight, the Cyclones fell 67-53 on Nov. 20 against the Cavaliers.

The game was close all throughout until the final six minutes. Moraine Valley struggled to hit shots early and seemed to lack the intensity of Kankakee, which jumped to a 7-0 lead. After a timeout, the Cyclones went on a run and crept back to tie the game at nine. The score went back and forth with Moraine Valley down 35-32 at the half. After halftime, Kelly Foley tied the game with a 3-pointer. The Cyclones fouled in the final minutes while Kankakee made free throws and hit a big 3-point shot down the stretch to shut down Moraine Valley.

Foley led with 17 points while Shaneka Boyd tallied 12 and in her first game back from a concussion Camille Byrd chipped in with 11.

November 14, 2012
Big region win fuels Cyclones momentum

The Cyclones grabbed a big region win Nov. 13 when they crushed Olive-Harvey College 81-38. Although it wasn’t pretty, it was an important NJCAA Region IV victory and good momentum before their next matchup with rival Kankakee Community College.

Moraine Valley started out slow, scoring only 10 points in the first five minutes of the game, but with 15 minutes left they found their stride and never looked back. The team had a lot of easy buckets thanks to steals and fast breaks, especially with the speed of Maggie Yandel, who led with 16 points. Fast breaks helped the Cyclones pull away and lead 39-18 at the half before the eventual win.

Kelly Foley found her rhythm this game for 13 points. Bridget Niemiec returned to the court and after a slow first half finished with 12 points. Katie McGann knocked down a few 3-pointers and finished with eight points. Jamilla Jones had double digit rebounds for the fourth straight game while Stephanie Karl was solid at the point.

November 9, 2012
Solid Cyclones victory

Even with the Cyclones’ two top scorers out with injuries, they played good ball Nov. 8 for a 63-37 victory over Triton College.

Kelly Foley stepped up and led with 18 points, going 4-for-6 from the 3-point line. Jamilla Jones finished with 12 points and 18 rebounds. So far she averages 15.3 rebounds per game. The Cyclones welcomed back starting point guard Stephanie Karl who did a great job running the show and finished with six points. Katie McGann added eight points while Shaneka Boyd tallied seven.

November 4, 2012
Offensive holes hurt Cyclones

The Cyclones missed some offense Nov. 3 in a 60-47 loss to Lincoln College, their first loss of the season.

Lincoln jumped out to a big lead early while Moraine Valley struggled with turnovers. Still missing starting point guard Stephanie Karl, the Cyclones had trouble getting into its offensive sets. Down at one time 34-20, the Cyclones went on a ferocious 12-2 run to close the gap to 36-32 at the half.

The second half remained close as both teams went back and forth and struggled to score, but Moraine Valley could not breach the two-point deficit. At the six-minute mark, back to back 3-pointers put Lincoln up where they stayed for good.

Camille Byrd led Moraine Valley in scoring with 14 points. Jamilla Jones again led the team in rebounding with 11. Shaneka Boyd was next best with eight rebounds along with seven points. Kelly Foley had eight points. Major offensive force Bridget Niemiec did not play after halftime because of an injury, but finished with eight points in 12 minutes of court action. Without Niemiec or Karl, the offense struggled.

November 3, 2012
Cyclones grab first win

The Cyclones officially opened their season Nov. 2 with a 64-61 overtime win against Lincoln Land Community College.

Moraine Valley got off to a fast 6-0 lead and looked poised to run away with the game. But some bad possessions and a few turnovers allowed Lincoln Land to creep back and start to pull away. At halftime the Cyclones were down 36-22.

After halftime, the Cyclones refocus on defense and rebounding inspired a 14-0 run to tie the game at 36. Neither team led by more than four points the rest of the game as the lead changed hands often until a final missed shot by Lincoln Land sent the matchup into overtime in a 55 tie. In overtime, a big 3-pointer by Kelly Foley gave Moraine Valley a 64-61 lead before a final failed attempt at the buzzer by Lincoln Land.

Foley and Shaneka Boyd led the way with 11 points each while Bridget Niemiec added 10 points. Camille Byrd chipped in with nine points and 11 rebounds. Jamilla Jones was dominant on the boards with 17 rebounds in only 21 minutes of floor time along with four points and three blocks.

November 5, 2012
Cyclones ready to prove themselves

At one time the Cyclones took being Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference champions for granted. This season, the team wants to recapture the championship and prove they’ve got what it takes.

After a 2011-12 season that included a 24-9 overall record and 9-5 conference record with elimination in the NJCAA Region IV finals, head coach Delwyn Jones is ready to take his team farther. Jones is back at the Cyclones helm in his 13th season, which includes five conference championships. He is joined once again by assistants Jeff Larson, Kathleen Zulevic—both former Cyclones—and Sean Mackey.

Missing this season are several key players including All-Region and All-Conference guard Kim Young (Argo), who last year broke the single game record for most 3-pointers in a single game—10. All-Conference second team guards Loretta Burton (Crete-Monee) and Natalina Cifaldi (Lake Park) along with forward Jessica Contant (Stagg), center Val Zulevic (Mother McAuley), center Raven Phillips (Bloom), and forward Shekela Quarles (Richards) also will be absent.

All-Region and All-Conference second team leading returning scorer and guard Kelly Foley (Oak Lawn/5’6”) is back to take on a bigger role. Last year she averaged 10 points per game and was the complementary 3-point shooter to Young. Point guard Stephanie Karl (Lockport/5’6”) brings back her basketball intelligence to the Cyclones. Karl was relied on in the last six games of last season, making an impact on the court. Raynisha Dent (Shepard/5’9”) will play every forward position as she is strong in the post, can handle the ball and makes solid choices. Forward Shaneka Boyd (Rich South/5’8”) is back this year and is the most athletic player Jones has coached. She should make an impact with her speed and 10- to 15-foot shots. Forward Dena Hammad (Argo/5’8”) rounds out the sophomores. Although she is undersized at the post, she has a keen knack for rebounding.

New to the Cyclones roster are several players who will be a contributing force. Transfer forward Camille Byrd (Harlan/5’11”) has "Scottie Pippen-like" abilities and is versatile enough to play every position. Another transfer, power forward Bridget Niemiec (Oak Lawn/5’11”), is a heady player who can score 15 feet out, is good around the basket and may play some center. The freshmen contingent includes several strong athletes. Guard Katie McGann (Providence/5’9”) can spread out the defense with her long-range shooting ability; guard Maggie Yandel (Stagg/5’8”) also can play forward, is a phenomenal defender and plays the passing lanes well; forward Jamilla Jones (Eisenhower/6’0”) was coveted by several junior colleges in the area because she is one of the best offensive post players who can play well on the perimeter; center Amber Hunter (Evergreen Park/6’0”) solidifies the team at the post and runs the floor better than people expect; guard Ashley Cunningham (Eisenhower/5’7”) is a former Cyclones volleyball player who is a good perimeter shooter; and Kayla McKinney (Shepard/5’6”) is a backup point guard that is a strong passer and can see the full court well.

The Cyclones have built a strong basketball program and expectations are high, which is why some people were disappointed with the 2011-12 season. Outsiders think Moraine Valley didn’t have a good run. However, Jones argues that they finished with more than 20 wins, were ranked seventh in the nation and were one loss away from advancing to the national championship. “We had a lot of talent last year but didn’t perform at the highest level. We had plans to win conference, but didn’t,” Jones said. “We haven’t won the championship in two years. I hope that changes.”

Although this year’s squad is generally physically smaller and not as talented as last year, the chemistry, character and drive of the team is enough to yield a winner. “We are fairly small in the post, but we have players that can handle the ball well. We can shoot well from the perimeter, and we’re pretty fast. The success of the season is predicated on being technically precise,” Jones said.

Other teams have already written off the Cyclones, but Jones knows his crew has what it takes to go all the way. “We have decent players who have to work differently than last year. If we can maximize our talent, we can be successful and beat teams in the conference and region,” he said. “We are more talented than people know.”