February 16, 2009

Cowley women route Kansas City, run win streak to seven games

Continuing its winning ways, the Cowley College women’s basketball team defeated Kansas City 77-42 Saturday night at W.S. Scott Auditorium. The victory was the Lady Tigers’ seventh win in a row.

Cowley is outscoring its opponents by an average of 73 to 52 during its winning streak. After scoring over 70 points only six times in the team’s first 19 games, the Lady Tigers have scored more than 70 points six times during its current winning streak.

“Offensively we are being more aggressive,” Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. “You have got to be clicking offensively this time of year.”

On Saturday, Cowley asserted itself from the start as they jumped out to a 15-3 lead. Kansas City tried to hang around as Kristian Dodds’ three-pointer with 8:30 remaining in the half, cut the Lady Tigers’ lead to 23-13. However, Cowley sophomores Elena Yankova and Bebe Holloway combined to score 26 points as the Lady Tigers took a 42-21 lead into the half.

The Lady Tigers opened the second half on a 14-2 run as they increased their lead to 56-23 and were never threatened the rest of the way.

The victory improves Cowley’s record to 19-7 overall and 10-4 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. The Lady Tigers are in sole possession of third place, three games behind conference leading Coffeyville and two games behind second place Labette.

On Saturday, Cowley forced Kansas City into 23 turnovers, while committing only nine turnovers of their own. The Lady Tigers also went 6-of-10 from three-point range and are shooting 42 percent from beyond the arc over the past nine games.

“We have had good shot selection and are hitting at a high percentage,” Clark said.

Yankova hit both of her three-point attempts and went 8-of-13 from the floor to finish with a game-high 21 points. Holloway continued to fill up the stat sheet as she finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and six steals.

“She has been really active, especially in the steals department,” Clark said. “She brings a lot of energy to the team.”

Dodds was the lone Kansas City player to score in double figures as she finished with 12 points. The Lady Blue Devils are now 11-15 overall and 4-10 in the conference.

Cowley will now prepare to play at Coffeyville Wednesday at 6 p.m. The last three meetings between the teams have each been decided by one-point.

“It’s probably going to be a tight game,” Clark said. “It’s a tough place to play, but we hope to grind it out and sneak out of town with a win.”

Box score:
Kansas City (42): Jessi Hilliard 1-4 1-2 3, Ashleigh Gallio 1-4 0-0 3, Shannon Carlin 3-8 1-2 7, Cameron Roland 3-14 0-1 7, Katie Dugan 1-1 0-0 2, Kristian Dodds 4-7 2-2 12, Kelly Stauch 0-0 0-0 0, Taryn Lane 1-1 0-0 2, Sarah Craft 0-0 1-2 1, Kelsey Stanbrough 2-3 0-0 5.

Cowley (77): Elena Yankova 8-13 3-4 21, Bebe Holloway 7-13 2-2 16, JaNeil Robinson 3-7 0-0 6, Gabbie Curtis 3-11 0-1 8, Whitney Williams 5-7 0-3 10, Courtney Goodrum 0-4 2-2 2, Kaneesha Lee 3-4 2-4 8, Brianna Gonzalez 2-7 0-2 6, Darby Lupardes 0-3 0-0 0. Totals: 31-69 9-18 77.

Three-pointers: Kansas City 5-13 Gallio 1-2, Carlin 0-2, Roland 1-4, Dodds 2-3, Stanbrough 1-2), Cowley 6-10 (Yankova 2-2, Curtis 2-3, Gonzalez 2-4, Lupardes 0-1). Rebounds: Kansas City 26 (Hilliard 6), Cowley 37 (Holloway 11). Assists: Kansas City 12 (Gallio, Roland 4), Cowley 24 (Holloway 6). Turnovers: Kansas City 23, Cowley 9. Total fouls: Kansas City 17, Cowley 12. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.