The No. 2 Panthers continued their impressive winning streaks on Wednesday night with a 106-53 victory over Kankakee.

Claire Hyde tacked on six more three-pointers to her season total and posted a game-high 30 points in the win. Two of her backcourt teammates posted 20-plus points, and it has been a routine to see the likes of Hyde, Mia Simpson, and Kaylen Evans light up the stat sheet.

Evans dropped a career-high 23 points with seven assists, while Simpson posted a double-double of 22 (points) and 11 (rebounds) on 9-of-11 shooting. 

The NJCAA DII leader in field-goal percentage continues to torch the nets and excel near the basket. 

There were five in double figures on the night where the team found plenty of ways to come out victorious even without starting forward Frannie Metz (back).

It is expected for Metz to return over the weekend in Florida, but the Panthers had no struggles on Wednesday night.

"With Frannie not being able to play, Gianine Boado and I knew we each had to take advantage of the huge opportunity that our coach was giving us. We did well when pushing the floor in transition after both made and missed shots. We are now all looking forward to playing a pair of good JUCO squads in Florida," Taylor Marquart said.

Marquart played extended minutes without Metz in the lineup, impacting the game in many areas. The forward posted a season-high 11 points and had three rebounds, two assists, and six free throw attempts (four makes). It was a solid performance that allowed the Panthers to hold a double-digit lead on Kankakee in all four quarters.

The 106 points are the third time the 12-0 Panthers dropped at least 100 on the scoreboard, but the 31 points in the opening quarter were their second-highest total of the season.

"With Frannie being out, Taylor and I knew we had to step up and embrace the opportunity. Being back for my sophomore season, I know that I have to be better for the team and today (Wednesday) helped me get more game reps to prepare for future games. We shared the ball, looking for our open teammates, and crashed the boards well. The team and I are excited for the challenge to play down in Florida against unfamiliar teams and to get better as a whole," Boado said.

Boado played well in Port Huron last season as a contributor off the bench but stepped up as a starter for Metz on Wednesday. Boado chipped in with 6 points, helping the Panthers post 20-plus points every quarter.

With the ability to stretch the floor as a forward that can keep defenses honest with an outside shot, Boado allows other teammates to get open looks. If teams try to cheat on other guards, Boado has proven to be clutch in several opportunities over the past two seasons. 

In the 53-point victory, the Panthers extended their home winning streak to 34 games and their regular season streak to 32 games.

The Panthers combined for 14 made three-pointers and led by as many as 59 late in the fourth quarter. They also held an advantage in the paint, outscoring the Cavaliers 46-18.

Jalyssa Carrasco played a role again, dropping double figures (12 points) for the seventh time in her past eight games.

The Panthers are all set for their trip to Florida, where they will play a pair of games. They have a Saturday matchup against Miami Dade (NJCAA DI) and another on Monday against Palm Beach State (NJCAA DII). 

Miami Dade is 3-10 and coming off a 24-point loss to Johnson County. Johnson County (currently No. 4) was one of the elite teams that appeared in Port Huron for Nationals last season, where the Panthers knocked them off to advance to the National Semifinals. 

Palm Beach State enters the weekend at 7-3 and winners in five of their past six games. The lone loss was to another familiar foe of the Panthers. 

Illinois Central (currently No. 10) knocked them off by 28 points, and the Panthers have competed against them in recent memory. It was an early December showdown where the Panthers handled their business at home, winning 75-50 over an impressive ranked squad.

The unbeaten and No. 2 ranked Panthers have looked forward to all challengers, and the trip to Florida will continue to boost their confidence and overall resume. 

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