By Gargoyle sports staff
Posted Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007, The OG, sports

Rachel Skoza, right, defends against Judah's
Kaylee McCall during Uni's 49-47 win on
Monday. Late in the game Skoza injured her
shooting hand and will be out for the season.
(Gargoyle photo) (click to enlarge)

CHAMPAIGN — After building a 15-point lead in the second quarter, the Illineks had to fight hard in the final minutes of Monday night's conference game against Judah Christian to come away with a 49-47 victory.

Unfortunately, the win came at a great cost: The team's leading scorer and rebounder, center-forward Rachel Skoza, will be out for at least the remainder of the regular season.

Against Judah, Skoza led the Illineks with 14 points, but late in the fourth quarter the 6-footer injured the pinky finger on her right hand — her shooting hand. At the time, head coach Rebecca Murphy doubted the damage was serious.

It was only after the game had ended that Skoza and her teammates learned she had broken her fifth metacarpal — the bone that connects the pinky to the hand.

“Actually I didn't know it was broken,” Skoza said today. “I thought it was dislocated.”

Skoza believes she injured her hand with 3:30 left in the contest. Despite the pain, she remained on the court and never let up as an inside presence.

“I ended up playing the [rest of the game],” she said, “and I made a basket, which really, really hurt.”

In fact, it wasn't just any basket. The shot, which Skoza made with only 2:44 left, put Uni ahead 48-45 and proved to be the game winner.

The bad news about Skoza's injury has serious consequences for the Illineks. The sophomore has been a scoring and rebounding force all season. Her per-game averages of 11.9 points and 7.8 rebounds lead the team. Junior guard Aran Yoo is second in scoring with 7.1 points per game, and sophomore forward Jessi Sullivan is second in rebounds, averaging 7.1 boards.

It's possible Skoza may be back for the team's first-round Class A regional playoff game on Feb. 7 against Oakwood, but Murphy doubts that will happen.

“That's the best-case scenario,” she said.

Skoza's teammates realize the importance of having her on the court.

“Obviously, Skoza's been a huge influence on our team, a huge impact the entire season,” said senior forward Mandy Grill. “It'll be a big impact, but I think we can recover from anything. It's unfortunate that it's so close to the end of the season, but a lot of things are gonna have to change.”

Skoza is the second major player Uni has lost this season; junior point guard Samantha Nguyen tore her ACL in the Illineks' season opener against Atwood-Hammond on Nov. 16. The Illineks went through a six-game losing streak in late November and early December as they adjusted to playing without their floor leader.

Uni's top six players accounted for all the team's points Monday against the Tribe, indicating the challenge the Illineks will face without Skoza's reliable double-digit scoring. Yoo finished 12 points, Grill added 9, sophomore Jessi Sullivan chipped in 6, and juniors Ruthie Welch and Sarah Pfander contributed 4 apiece.

Yoo was a difference-maker in all phases of the game, leading the defense with 7 steals and directing the offense with 5 assists. She also led the team in rebounds with 9. Skoza was second with 8, including 2 crucial rebounds after she had injured her hand. Welch and Pfander each grabbed 7 boards.

The win raises Uni's record to 10-10 overall, two more wins than last year's team. The Illineks are now 6-3 in the East Central Illinois Conference, firmly in control of third place behind leader Decatur Lutheran and second-place Normal Calvary Baptist. Last season Uni finished 5-5 in the conference, tied with Judah for the third spot.

Judah drops to 8-11 overall and 5-4 in the ECIC. The Tribe have lost both their games with Uni this year. The Illineks won their Dec. 11 meeting 44-29.

After a close first quarter that ended with Uni ahead 16-12, the Illineks pulled away with an 8-0 run in the second period. The Tribe didn't score until 3:25 remained in the half. The Illineks went into the locker room leading 32-19.

Judah wasn't ready to concede, however. The Tribe stepped up and whittled Uni's lead to just 4 points with 1:44 left in the third period. By the start of the final quarter, Judah trailed only 40-35.

“We came out in the second half in press formation but didn't attack,” Murphy said. “They [Judah] got a little momentum, and that was the spark they needed.”

Three times in the final 4 minutes Judah pulled to within a single point. With 2:44 left and Uni ahead just 46-45, Skoza scored the basket that “really, really hurt” — but which turned out to be the game winner.

The Tribe got to within a single point one more time — 48-47 with 2:25 remaining — but couldn't capitalize on subsequent opportunities. Yoo, Sullivan, and Pfander each made key steals in the final 2 minutes.

Grill hit a free throw with 1:19 left to give Uni a 2-point lead. But with 3.5 seconds on the clock, Grill fouled Judah's Deanna Brooks. The Tribe sophomore missed her first shot then stepped over the line when she attempted her second, sealing Uni's win.

The Illineks will travel to Donovan for a nonconference game Thursday. JV action begins at 6 p.m., with the varsity game to follow.

VARSITY RECORD: 10-10 overall, 6-3 East Central Illinois Conference
(Games at Kenney Gym in bold)

Season Preview: Illineks ready for season opener tonight

Nov. 16: Atwood-Hammond, W 37-35
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Illineks triumph in season opener

Nov. 18: Hoopeston (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 45-23
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 13 pts
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 18: Chrisman (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 50-48
— leading scorers: Rachel Skoza & Jessi Sullivan, 15 pts each
— story: Illineks win one, lose one in Oakwood

Nov. 20: Blue Ridge (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), W 52-47
— leading scorer: Sarah Pfander, 13 pts
— story: Illineks down Blue Ridge in tournament action

Nov. 21: Oakwood (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 72-39
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Shorthanded Uni loses to undefeated Oakwood

Nov. 24: Milford (at Oakwood/Westville Thanksgiving Classic), L 44-24
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 10 pts
— story: Uni finishes sixth in Thanksgiving Classic

Nov. 28: Shiloh, L 45-25
— leading scorer: Ruthie Welch, 5 pts
— story: Uni drops third straight

Nov. 30: Villa Grove, game postponed because of bad weather

Dec. 5: Paxton-Buckley-Loda, L 34-23
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 9 pts
— story: Slump continues as Uni falls to PBL

Dec. 8: Decatur Lutheran, L 57-38 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: Uni begins conference play with loss to defending champ

Dec. 9: Villa Grove, L 38-27
— leading scorer: Kaylie Dastrup, 9 pts
— story: Villa Grove hands Illineks fourth home defeat of season

Dec. 11: Judah Christian, W 44-29 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 13 pts
— story: Illineks end six-game losing streak

Dec. 14: at DeLand-Weldon, W 64-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Illineks win by 38

Dec. 16: LeRoy, W 43-33
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 18 pts
— story: Girls basketball: Skoza, Yoo lead Uni to third straight win

Jan. 2: at Buckley Christ Lutheran, W 57-19 *
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 12 pts
— story: Four players score in double figures as Uni gets back to .500

Jan. 4: at Decatur Christian, W 53-26 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 15 pts
— story: Uni wins fifth straight game, record improves to 8-7

Jan. 6: Fisher, L 52-41
— leading scorer: Aran Yoo, 15 pts
— story: Fisher ends Uni winning streak

Jan. 8: Normal Calvary Baptist, L 48-36 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 12 pts
— story: Uni loses showdown for second place in conference

Jan. 11: DeLand-Weldon, W 58-14 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 13 pts
— story: Uni completes sweep of DeLand-Weldon

Jan. 19: at Decatur Lutheran, L 79-41 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 16 pts
— story: Conference leader Decatur Lutheran tops Uni

Jan. 22: at Judah Christian, W 49-47 *
— leading scorer: Rachel Skoza, 14 pts
— story: see above

Remaining games: see schedule

*East Central Illinois Conference opponent