Girls Basketball: McKenzie Schueler keeps her cool, closes out Kaneland comeback at St. Francis

WHEATON – Kaneland sophomore McKenzie Schueler wasn't fazed by the moment.

Schueler hit a 3-pointer early in the fourth quarter and four crucial free throws later, as the Knights held off host St. Francis 54-52 in non-conference action on Tuesday.

"[She's] the kind of player that wants those big moments," Kaneland coach Kelsey Flanagan said. "She definitely stepped up to the line with confidence to knock down free throws."

Schueler scored seven of her 13 points in the fourth quarter for Kaneland (13-7), which snapped a two-game losing streak and finished a 12-game stretch away from home. The Knights did so by rallying from six points down at the half.

"I think our overall comeback [came] as a team," Schueler said. "In the first half, we didn't have a lot of communication and intensity. In the second half, we talked about it at halftime, and we really brought a lot of intensity, communicated as a team."

Practicing situational plays helped the Knights in a close game late.

"It prepared us a lot," Schueler said. "I think as a team overall we were prepared for that."

St. Francis built a 24-14 lead with two minutes left in the first half, but a Schueler 3-pointer cut into the advantage. Spartans sophomore Katie Anne DeCraene responded with a layup. Kaneland again answered with a jumper.

After Spartans junior Maggie Culver connected on a pair of free throws, Schueler hit another three to make it 28-22 Spartans at the half.

Kaneland took a 36-34 on Taylor Carlson's coast-to-coast layup with 2:05 left in the third quarter, and the Knights didn't relinquish their hard-fought lead the rest of the way.

St. Francis pulled within 45-44 with 5:07 left in the game on a pair of free throws, but Kylie Holubecki hit a layup and split two free throws to provide a four point cushion.

Holubecki scored 13 points and Delaney Sheehan had 10 points for Kaneland.

St. Francis was led by Culver's 20 points and four rebounds. Katie Anne DeCraene followed with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The troublesome quarter for the Spartans proved to be the third quarter, where they had six turnovers.

"Like I've been preaching all year, we have a young group of girls," St. Francis coach Sandy DeCraene said. "[We're] teaching them how to keep composure, and I think even though we...lost our rhythm per se, I think this is one of our better team efforts; both on the bench and on the court. I think everybody was totally involved."