Cold shooting night dooms Lady Tigers in first loss of the season

Entering Saturday's home game against Seward County, the Cowley College women's basketball team was averaging 98 points per game. However, the Saints held the Lady Tigers to 30 percent shooting in a 71-64 road win.

The loss was the first of the season for Cowley (6-1), as they are now 1-1 in the Jayhawk Conference. Seward (5-2) is also 1-1 in conference play.

The Lady Tigers made only 2-of-12 shot attempts in the opening quarter of Saturday's game and trailed the Saints 16-9.

"We rushed some shots early in the game and never got into a rhythm offensively," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said.

After falling behind 27-15 midway through the second quarter, Cowley rallied to tie the game at 29-29 before Seward's Kylee Hunt was fouled on a three-point attempt with two seconds left in the second quarter. Hunt would make all three free throws to give the Saints a 32-29 halftime lead.

On the first possession of the second half, Cowley sophomore Elyse Martinez hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 32-32. However, the Lady Tigers were unable to retake the lead and went into the final quarter of play trailing 52-47.

Still, Cowley trailed only 64-61 following a three-pointer by sophomore Jaiden Smith with 3:18 left to play.

Once again, Seward had an answer as the Saints scored the next seven straight points and went on to the 71-64 road win.

Sophomore Jamie Molina came off the bench to lead Cowley with 15 points but shot only 5-of-15 from the floor. Jaiden Smith and Elysa Martinez added 12 points apiece but combined to make only 7-of-25 shot attempts.

"Seward did a good job of running us off the three-point line," Clark said.

Kylee Hunt led four Seward players in double figures with 18 points. Allie Myers added a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Cowley will remain home to face Dodge City on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The Conquistadors are 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the Jayhawk Conference.

"We will have our hands full with Dodge City," Clark said. "We will need to improve our offensive and defensive approach."

Box score:

Seward (71): Kylee Hunt 3-8 10-11 18, Avery Marchino 3-8 3-4 10, Ari Gordon 5-10 0-0 11, Kezia Grant-Bobb 0-1 0-0 0, Allie Myers 6-13 0-1 13, Biyyanah Ellis 3-7 3-3 9, Maddy Kincaide 0-3 0-0 0, Trinitee Holmes 0-1 2-2 2, RaMya Kennedy 1-1 0-0 2, Destiny Alexander 3-5 0-0 6, Sanaa Dennis 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 24-57 18-21 71.

Cowley (64): Jaiden Smith 4-16 2-2 12, Destiny Yates 3-8 1-2 7, Hattie Pyle 1-6 7-10 9, Elysa Martinez 3-9 5-6 12, Georgia Knight 0-5 1-2 1, Keturah Stewart 2-2 0-0 4, Mallory Jackson 0-0 0-0 0, Rafa Bergonso 2-4 0-0 4, Jamie Molina 5-15 2-2 15. Totals: 20-65 18-24 64.

Three-pointers: Seward 5-15 (Hunt 2-3, Myers 1-4, Marchino 1-2, Gordon 1-1, Kincaide 0-3, Ellis 0-2), Cowley 6-31 (Molina 3-11, Smith 2-12, Martinez 1-1, Yates 0-2, Bergonso 0-2, Knight 0-2, Pyle 0-1). Rebounds: Seward 44 (Myers 10), Cowley 23 (Pyle, Martinez). Assists: Seward 13 (Marchino, Kennedy 4), Cowley 10 (Pyle 7). Turnovers Seward 25, Cowley 14. Total fouls: Seward 24, Cowley 19. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.