Lady Tigers end skid with 51-33 win

Getting back to playing the kind of defense Cowley College women’s basketball head coach Todd Clark likes, the Lady Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 51-33 win over the Kansas Wesleyan University JV Tuesday night at W.S. Scott Auditorium.

Cowley held the Lady Coyotes to 32 percent shooting, while forcing 25 turnovers.

“I felt like the last three games our defensive intensity wasn’t there, so we tried to do some things different and I think the kids did a good job of buying in,” Clark said. “I thought we were a lot better defensively then we have been.”

Cowley was unable to shake the pesky Lady Coyotes for the majority of the first half as they led just 18-15 after a basket by Kansas Wesleyan’s Abby Newell with 3:43 remaining before halftime.

However, Cowley scored the final seven points of the first half and scored the first seven points of the second half to lead 32-15. The Lady Tigers later held Kansas Wesleyan scoreless for nine and a half minutes as their lead grew to 46-21 with 5:30 left to play.

Sophomore forward Natasa Draganic led all scorers with a career-high 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Elena Yankova added eight points and Cameron Roland made all three of her field goal attempts as she finished with seven points.

The victory improves Cowley’s record to 2-3 on the season. All 14 Lady Tigers saw playing time, 10 of which scored in the contest.

“We have tried a variety of different lineups and will keep shaking things up until we find out what works,” Clark said.

Julie Foster led Kansas Wesleyan with nine points in the defeat.

Cowley will return to the court Thursday at 7 p.m. when they host the Friends University JV at 7 p.m.

“Hopefully, we can continue to get a little better,” Clark said.

Box score:
Cowley (51): Noelle Jackson 2-5 0-0 4, Cameron Roland 3-3 1-1 7, JaNeil Robinson 2-2 0-0 4, Alexis Wright 2-4 1-2 5, Lauren Cherry 2-3 0-0 4, Elena Yankova 4-12 0-0 8, Natasa Draganic 4-5 1-2 10, Courtney Goodrum 1-3 0-0 2, Amy Slane 0-5 0-0 0, Sammantha Maley 0-1 0-0 0, Gabrielle Curtis 2-3 0-0 5, Whitney Williams 1-3 0-0 2, Caitlin Spencer 0-2 0-0 0, Neasha Haynes 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 23-54 3-5 51.

Kansas Wesleyan JV (33): Julies Foster 9, Tiffany Goetz 8, Megan Cavenee 5, Brandi Jensen 5, Sharniece Pierce 4, Abby Newell 2. Totals: 11-34 5-10 33.