Clark, Kent producing for Saint Louis women's basketball team

Just a few years after Rolling Meadows graduates Jackie Kemph and Jenny Vliet were starring for Saint Louis University, there's another pair of local athletes playing key roles for the Billikens' women's basketball team.

St. Viator grad Myia Clark, a sophomore, and Maine West alum Rachel Kent, a freshman, are two of the Billikens' four players averaging double figures.

Less than 10 months ago, Kent was helping lead Maine West to a 35-0 Class 4A state championship.

Now, she is the first freshman to be a regular starter since Kemph and Vliet six years ago.

"Honestly, I think coming from Maine West High School and playing against the good competition in the Chicagoland area has definitely helped her," said Billikens assistant coach Ty Margenthaler. "And one thing that helped as well is that she came from a winning program. And of course anytime you can play elite AAU basketball at the high school level, it is a great benefit."

Saint Louis has benefitted from Kent and Clark's 3-point shooting. They have the No. 1 (Clark) and three (Kent) top percentages on the team.

Clark had four 3-pointers with a career-high 22 points in the Billikens' 61-56 win over Illinois State when they improved to 7-3 last week.

Kent has connected for 23 3-poitners this season.

"Rachel has come in and is doing an outstanding job catching and shooting behind the arc," Margenthaler said. "One thing that really stands out is that Rachel's conditioning level and strength are really impressive. She just does not get tired so that's been a big bonus for her and she just continues to grow."

Women's swimming

Iowa State senior Dana Liva (Prospect) has qualified for her fourth NCAA Zones competition, which will be held March 9-11 in Dallas at Southern Methodist University.

Liva advanced in all three diving events (1 meter, 3 meter and 10 meter tower).

Liva, the all-time Iowa State record holder on the 10-meter tower, qualified with a score of 237 in the event while placing fourth at the Missouri Invitational.

She finished 11th on the 1 meter (251.7) and 17th on 3 meter (240.55).

She qualified for NCAA Zones on the 1 meter (270) and 3 meter (297) against Rutgers.

Miller moment

Tampa Bay Bucaneer Scott Miller, the former Daily Herald All-Area Football Team Captain from Barrington High School, hauled in his first NFL touchdown pass on Sunday.

Miller's 33-yard TD grab from quarterback Jameis Winston gave the Bucaneers a 14-0 lead with 1:52 left in the first quarter and they went on to a 38-17 win over the Detroit Lions.

Miller, who chosen by the Tampa Bay in the sixth round (208th overall) of the 2019 draft, injured his hamstring on the play and did not return to the game. He had 3 receptions in the contest for 49 yards.

Football

Washington University (Saint Louis) senior punter Johnny Davidson (Barrington) was named to the 2019 D3football.comAll-North Region second team.

Davidson, a first-team All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, was second in the conference and ranks 17th in NCAA Division III in punting average at 40.4 yards. He punted 55 times for 2,220 yards, with a long of 59 yards and had 15 punts land inside the 20.

He concluded his career as Washington's all-time leader in punting average (40.7).

• Illinois State junior linebacker Dylan Draka (Wheeling) led the Redbirds (10-5) with 8 tackles and a pass breakup in a 9-3 loss to North Dakota State (14-0) in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in Fargo, ND.

For the season, Draka was the second leading tackler for Redbirds with more than 80.

Women's track

Augustana sophomore Giavanna Schwager (Barrington) was one of five Vikings to place in the pole vault at the Frigid Bee Invite at St. Ambrose University. She placed eighth in the weight throw with a toss of 42-10¼.

Women's basketball

Duke graduate guard Haley Gorecki (Fremd) was named the Duke Student-Athlete of the Week after averaging 20.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.0 steals in two games.

Gorecki had 27 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds and a season-high five steals as Duke defeated Bosyine College. She made 10-of-17 field goals and became the 35th Blue Devil to reach the 1,000-point mark. She is the 10th quickest Blue Devil to accomplish the feat (only 77 games).

Gorecki also collected 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in an 83-79 loss at Nebraska.

Condolences

Mary "Lou" Anderson, the wife of longtime Palatine athletic director Chic Anderson passed away on Dec. 8. Lou was a big supporter of Palatine athletics for many years.

Please send Sport Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com