MOUNT VERNON – Freshman Reagan Wells drained a turnaround jumper with 10.6 seconds left that propelled Cornell to a 62-61 victory over Illinois College in Tuesday's Midwest Conference women's basketball thriller inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (11-6 overall, 7-2 MWC) secured a tight regular-season sweep over the Lady Blues (7-12 overall, 4-6 MWC) and remained third in the MWC race, only one full game behind Ripon. Cornell edged Illinois College, 60-58, on Dec. 4 in Jacksonville, Ill.
 
Illinois College led 61-60 with possession when the Rams forced a dead-ball turnover with 14 seconds remaining. Following a Cornell timeout, Erin Knowles found Wells on the right block. Wells rose over the Illinois College defender and delivered the game-winning bucket for the 22nd lead change of the game.
 
The Lady Blues had a 3-pointer from the corner rim out as time expired, sending Cornell off victorious. It was the sixth win this season decided by six points or less for the young Rams.
 
Knowles turned in another superb performance with 24 points, nine rebounds and four assists. The freshman forward hit 9-of-14 field goals and bumped her MWC-best scoring average to 19.0 points per game. Knowles also netted 24 points in the early-season win over the Lady Blues.
 
Maya Hodge contributed 11 points and five rebounds. Wells and Victoria Saucedo chipped in eight points apiece. Penley Park, who sank a key 3-pointer that tied it at 59-59, added five points off the bench.
 
The Rams pressured Illinois College into 22 turnovers, helping offset a 46-34 rebounding advantage by the Lady Blues.   
 
Coming up – The Rams play host to league-leading Ripon (14-4 overall, 8-1 MWC) at 1 p.m. Saturday.