Destiny Nash scored all of her 15 points in the second half, coming in off the bench, as visiting Joliet Catholic defeated host Rich East 64-39 in a non-conference contest Wednesday in Park Forest.
Nash even dove for a loose ball and knocked over half the Rich East bench in the process.
“I just went off, because I knew I had to do something for my team,” Nash said. “We hadn’t been looking 100 percent lately as far as conditioning goes. You have to be used to the (physicality), too, and get used to it now before the playoffs start.”
Nicole Ekhomu led the Angels with 17 points.
Joliet Catholic (21-4) cruised through the first half and took a 30-13 lead into halftime. The Angles were buoyed by 12 first-half points from Jasmine Lumpkin and 11 from Ekhomu.
But Lumpkin fouled out at the 5:45 mark of the third quarter and finished with 14 points.
And even though Lumpkin was in foul trouble for most of the first half and into the third quarter, coach Ed Schodrof left her in the game anyway.
“I left her in the game intentionally, because Iowa and Michigan State were here and I tried to leave her in there as much as possible for her benefit — and the team’s benefit,” Schodrof said. “But I knew some other people could step up.”
Having Lumpkin out took out a sure double-double. She is averaging about 19 points and 13 rebounds a game.
“I’m trying to extend the bench, and if someone like Jasmine gets in foul trouble then someone will have to step up,” Schodrof said. “We’ve been playing with a 10-girl roster and we have three additional freshman we pulled up. We’re trying to go with a 13-girl roster.”
Rich East (8-15) was led by Gelina Webb with 12 points.
