EAST PEORIA, Ill. -- The difference between No. 7 and No. 8 Tuesday night was 20 points.

The seventh-ranked Kirkwood Eagles spanked No. 8 Illinois Central, 72-52,in an NJCAA Division II women's basketball game in East Peoria, Ill.

Alexis Fitzpatrick led Kirkwood (10-3) with 17 points, including 13 in the second half. Bianca Dufelmeier scored 14 points and Kianna Jacobs added 10.

Eagles enjoyed hot shooting on 3-pointers, nailing nine of 14 from behind the arc. Dufelmeier hit four triples for Kirkwood.

Chanta Wright topped Illinois Central (10-2) with 13 points.

KIRKWOOD (72): Fallon 0 0-0 0, Hobbs 1 0-0 3, Dufelmeier 4 2-2 14, Gray 0 0-0 0, Jacobs 2 6-6 10, Rohrbach 2 2-2 8, Fitzpatrick 7 1-1 17, Hawkins 2 0-0 4, Faber 1 0-0 2, Henderson 2 2-2 6, Tow 1 0-0 2, Chambers 2 0-3 4, Chuol 1 0-0 2. Totals 25 13-16 72.

ILLINOIS CENTRAL (52): Helton 0 0-0 0, Masters 1 0-0 3, Rodriguez 3 0-1 6, Harris 1 2-2 4, Moorman 3 1-2 9, Wright 6 0-0 13, Watkins 1 2-2 5, Vandermer 1 1-2 3, London 1 0-0 3, Robinson 2 0-0 4, Morris 0 2-2 2. Totals 19 8-11 52.

Halftime - Kirkwood 38, Illinois Central 23. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 9 (Dufelmeier 4, Fitzpatrick 2, Rohrback 2, Hobbs 1), Illinois Central 6 (Moorman 2, Wright 1, Watkins 1, London 1, Masters 1).