January 8, 2010

Seward snaps Lady Tigers' win streak, 60-55

A pair of 15-2 scoring runs by Seward County did in the Cowley College women’s basketball team Friday at the Jayhawk Shootout in Coffeyville as the Lady Tigers had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 60-55 loss to the Lady Saints.

Rachel Barnes, the leading scorer in the Jayhawk West, scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the first half as the Lady Saints built a 25-16 halftime lead. Barnes scored 10 of her points as Seward outscored Cowley 15-2 during a 11 minute stretch in the opening half.

Cowley rallied and used a 12-0 run in the second half to grab a 44-39 lead with six minutes left. However, the Lady Saints answered with another 15-2 run to go back on top 54-46 with less than two minutes remaining.

The Lady Tigers would not go away easily as they got a three-pointer from Anna Sonka and three free throws from Brianna Gonzalez to cut Seward’s lead to 56-55 with 19 seconds remaining.

Following a pair of free throws by Kendra Spresser with 17 seconds left, Cowley had a chance to tie the game but Gianna Woods’ three-point attempt with less than 10 seconds remaining came up just short and Spresser rebounded for the Lady Saints. Spresser would add two more free throws to ice the win.

Woods, who led Cowley with 15 points and 12 rebounds, was probably not the person the Lady Tigers wanted taking a three-pointer with a chance to tie the game as Woods had attempted only one three-point try all season.

Seward County, which was picked second in the Jayhawk West, improved to 14-1 on the season. Cowley is now 9-5 on the season.

“We played hard, our kids have nothing to hold their heads down for,” Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. “But, we have got to find a way to win these kind of games.”

Seward made up for its 25 percent shooting from the floor by making 30-of-34 free-throw attempts. Cowley also shot well from the line as they made 20-of-23 attempts.

Sonka joined Woods in double figures with 10 points, while Ariana Silva and Jasamyne Saunders chipped in eight points a piece.

Cowley will look to start a new win streak when they play Dodge City Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Jayhawk Shootout in Coffeyville. Dodge City is just 2-12 on the season.

“We are starting to play together more,” Clark said. “I hope we play a little better on Sunday.”