The Panthers had no issues on the road against McHenry. Despite going against the second-place Skyway squad, the Panthers won 86-22 in a game that was never in doubt.

The four leading scorers reached double figures and combined for 66 of their 86 points in a game they led by 38 at halftime (49-11).

The opposition has struggled to score 50 points against the stifling Panther defense. McHenry only managed 22 points in regulation, and the Panthers will look to build off their momentum.

The top-ranked Panthers were able to register 30 points in the opening quarter, and they continued to pour it on with the bench getting extended minutes. They finished with nine 3-pointers and shared the ball against the McHenry defense.

Mia Simpson had a game-high 21 points on 10-of-11 shooting and finished in the paint like she has all season. The ability to grab a rebound and start a fast break leads to easy offense.

"Defense is key! We hustled every possession, which led to fast break opportunities. Our fast ball movement and ability to drive the ball creates a lot of open shots," said Simpson. 

Simpson is still leading the NJCAA DII ranks in shooting percentage and seemingly is flawless from the paint in Skyway play. The star guard grabbed 13 rebounds with eight of them on the offensive end. Adding five steals and three assists, Simpson continues to do it all. She was named the NJCAA DII National Player of the Week in wins over Elgin and Oakton (1/30-2/5).

Frannie Metz had another productive performance in the 64-point victory. She had six assists, six steals, 11 rebounds, and 9 points. 

Kaylen Evans dropped 15 points, and Jalyssa Carrasco added 13. Claire Hyde added to her season lead by connecting on five 3-pointers and finishing with 17 points. She now has 102 made 3-pointers on the season, which is 17 more than any other player.

The only unpleasant news of the night was when Hyde had to exit in the third quarter after losing a tooth on a loose ball.

The toughness Hyde and the Panthers own has helped them maintain their No. 1 ranking at a perfect 23-0.

Another road matchup will follow on Thursday against Prairie State, who sits at 4-5 in conference play.

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