DODGE CITY, Kan. -- Coming off its best defensive performance of the season, the Dodge City Community College women's basketball team hopes to keep that momentum going when it travels to take on Independence 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Conquistadors (13-3, 3-2) are coming off a 70-56 victory over Butler at home Wednesday - a game DC3 led by 16 points after the first quarter, 24 points at the half and 25 points after three before cruising to the win.
The Conqs held Butler to 25 percent shooting, including 19.4 percent in the first half, while shooting 45.5 percent themselves (52.2 percent in the first half).
Talisha Presley led three Conqs in double figures with 22 points while
Rachel Slattery had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while
Antania Newton added 10 points and five assists.
Presley leads the Conqs - the top scoring team in the KJCCC at 85.6 points per game - at 16.8 points per game, good for second in the KJCCC. Slattery is fifth in the conference in scoring (15.7), leads the KJCCC in rebounding (12.5 - sixth in the NJCAA) and is second in blocks (2.8 - tied for ninth in the NJCAA). Newton continues to lead the KJCCC in 3-point shooting at 49.3 percent, good for fifth in the nation.
Independence (12-4, 3-3) has bounced back from a 1-3 start in KJCCC play with a pair of wins since returning from the holiday break - beating No. 23 Seward County at home 76-73 in overtime and defeating Barton on the road 82-76.
Independence enters the game fourth in the KJCCC in scoring average (77.8) and field goal percentage (43.9) while the Pirates are second in fewest turnovers per game (13.1).
Brianna Jackson-Brewer leads Independence in scoring at 15.1 points per game as the 5-foot-6 sophomore is also averaging 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Five-foot-10 sophomore Simone Costa is also averaging double figures at 11.2 points per game to go along with 3.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.9 steals per contest.
In the last 10 seasons, these teams have met only three times - last playing Nov. 24, 2012, a 65-54 victory for Independence. The other two meetings were a 72-56 Independence victory Nov. 17, 2007, and a 71-64 DC3 win Dec. 3, 2006, at the Jayhawk Shootout in Coffeyville.
