February 18, 2010

Lady Tigers get back in win column

After losing three games in a row, the Cowley College women’s basketball team got back on track with a 47-37 win over Fort Scott Wednesday at W.S. Scott Auditorium.

It may not have been pretty, but the victory was a much needed one as it keeps the Lady Tigers in third place in the conference and second place in the region.

On Wednesday, Cowley made just 3-of-20 shots from the floor in the opening half, but managed to go 9-of-11 from the free-throw line as they held a 15-13 halftime lead.

“We did not shoot it very well, especially in the first half, but thank god we got to the free-throw line,” Cowley head coach Todd Clark said.

Cowley would heat up in the second half, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor. After going nearly 20 minutes without a basket, Gianna Woods’ bucket inside put Cowley on top 21-18 with 15:09 remaining.

Woods’ basket would start a string of four straight possessions in which the Lady Tigers scored. Freshman point guard Ariana Silva keyed the offensive resurgence by scoring on two possessions and assisting on another. Silva would finish with 13 points and six assists.

“I thought she really forced the issue and did things we have been wanting her to do for some time now,” Clark said.

Despite shooting only 25.4 percent for the game, Fort Scott stayed close as they trailed only 39-36 after a three-point play by Brittany Demery with 3:13 remaining.

However, Cowley sophomore Kaneesha Lee would score on the next possession and the Lady Tigers out-scored Fort Scott 8-1 over the final three minutes of play.

The victory improves Cowley’s record to 18-9 overall and 11-5 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Fort Scott drops to 12-15 overall and 4-11 in conference play.

Cowley played its third straight game without freshman starter Maylisa Johnson. During Johnson’s absence the Lady Tigers are averaging only 44 points per game.

“It’s a chemistry issue, we have got to figure out how to play without a starter,” Clark said.

Cowley will not return to action until next Wednesday when they play at Kansas City at 6 p.m. Kansas City is 5-10 in the Jayhawk East.

“I hope we can get some rest, but also we need to work on some things,” Clark said.

Box score:
Fort Scott (37): Sherokee Bloodworth 2-7 0-2 4, Kasey Teich 1-12 0-0 3, Shadara Hampton 5-22 2-4 15, Brittany Demery 5-9 1-1 11, Joy Hathaway 1-1 0-0 2, Kendra Mattox 1-3 0-0 2, Chioma Okoronkwo 0-4 0-0 0, Tashanda Jackson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 15-59 3-7 37.

Cowley (47): Ariana Silva 2-3 9-9 13, Kaneesha Lee 3-8 0-0 6, Brianna Gonzalez 0-1 0-0 0, Anna Sonka 3-9 0-0 7, Gianna Woods 4-10 3-6 11, Jasamyne Saunders 3-10 4-6 10, Maggie Vieyra 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 15-43 16-21 47.

Three-pointers: Fort Scott 4-27 (Bloodworth 0-2, Teich 1-12, Hampton 3-13), Cowley 1-4 (Sonka 1-3, Saunders 0-1). Rebounds: Fort Scott 40 (Demery 9), Cowley 27 (Woods 7). Assists: Fort Scott 8 (Hampton 3), Cowley 10 (Silva 6). Turnovers: Fort Scott 24, Cowley 20. Total fouls: Fort Scott 19, Cowley 14. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.