The Panthers have six remaining weeks of Skyway play and will look to stay atop the conference standings in the process. They will also look to extend a pair of winning streaks on Tuesday night at home against Prairie State.

The No. 2 Panthers (16-0) have won 36 straight games in the regular season, and they have also won 35 in a row at the Henry J. Vais Gymnasium. 

January has plenty of Skyway matchups, with two games a week the rest of the way. Prairie State and College of Lake County are on the docket this week for the Panthers.

Prairie State is 1-1 in the conference, with a recent 15-point victory at McHenry County. They are currently in a four-way tie in the Skyway, looking up in the standings to unbeaten Moraine Valley and Morton College.

The Panthers have been atop the national rankings in several categories. They lead the NJCAA DII ranks in three-pointers (208) and three-pointers per game (13.0).

Claire Hyde (66 makes), Kaylen Evans (55), and Jalyssa Carrasco (51) are the top shooting trio in the country. They have accounted for 172 of their makes (83%), and the three are ranked first, second, and fourth, respectively, entering play Tuesday.

Their guard-oriented lineup has plenty of positionless players that can do it all. Playing productive ball on both ends of the court is vital, but most fail to have several players that can create for their teammates.

The squad is third (nationally) in turnovers per game (11.0) thanks to valuing the basketball. They are also fourth in assists per game (20.6) due to their playmakers. 

There may not be a better player capable of dissecting a defense more than Evans. The guard is remarkable at putting pressure on teams with dribble-drive skills. 

Whether it is heating up from three-point territory or putting the ball on the deck, the Panther star draws the needed attention from opposing defenses.

Carrasco is another unstoppable guard that has made her open looks from the corners. More than a three-point specialist, the sophomore averages 12.1 points per game.

While three-point shooting is vital to their success, Mia Simpson is another star performer that has shown the ability to dominate games. Simpson is one of their four double-figure scorers, and leading the nation in field-goal percentage for consecutive seasons is an impressive achievement thus far.

The numbers improved from 64.2% last season to 71.2% this season. We don't see many misses within five feet, and Simpson often cleans up any missed outside shots from the Panthers.

Throw in her ability to finish in traffic and on the fast break, and one could argue the Panthers have more than enough weapons to withstand pressure from the opposition. 

Prairie State (6-12, 1-1) is outside the Top 25 in the national categories, but the Panthers will need to be ready for the challenge. After their success in Port Huron last season for Nationals, the Panthers have given plenty of reasons to keep a close eye on them this season.

Catching fire in January and playing winning basketball has been a joy for Panther nation. If you miss any future home games in person, follow the team on our Facebook page and Youtube. Also, check out GoMCPanthers.com and our social media pages @McAthletics1924 for more upcoming featured recaps, previews, quotes, and all the latest news for Panther hoops. 

*All Stats Entering Week of 1/16/2023