Girls Basketball: Niles West notches key win over Evanston

Updated: February 3, 2012 11:22PM

Niles West clinched at least a share of the CSL South crown with a 41-35 win over visiting Evanston on Friday.

Wolves’ superstar Jewell Loyd’s game-high 17 points brought her within 28 of reaching 3,000 for her career. Sophomore Dashae Shumate scored 13 points, including 10 in the second half, for Niles West (19-8, 7-2).

Evanston (14-11, 4-5) dropped their third game of the season to Niles West, including a controversial 61-60 home loss at the buzzer on Dec. 16. The Wildkits’ 6-foot-1 Sinclair Cunningham and 6-2 Alecia Cooley both finished with nine points and 10 rebounds.

The visitors shot 2 of 16 from the field in the third period as the Wolves turned a 17-14 halftime deficit into a 28-22 lead after three quarters. Niles West held off one last push by Evanston, which trailed by a point with 1:14 remaining. Molly Kleppin’s steal led to Jackie Cardenas’s layup, while Loyd added two free throws and a jumper.

Defending league champion Maine South (22-6, 6-3) downed Glenbrook South (19-6, 5-4) 48-43 to stay within a game of Niles West.

“We don’t want to share first place,” said Loyd. “We need to take care of business next week and make it all ours.”

Niles West finishes its league slate on the road against Glenbrook South on Feb. 10. Maine South hosts Waukegan (2-21, 0-9).

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