WOMEN'S REGION VI TOURNAMENT - FIRST ROUND
No. 9 Dodge City (17-13) @ No. 8 Independence (21-8)
7 p.m. Thursday
Independence Fieldhouse
DC3 ATHLETICSDODGE CITY, Kan. -- The Dodge City Community College women's basketball team may have struggled down the stretch, but the No. 9 Conquistadors will head into Thursday's Region VI Tournament with confidence knowing they've already beaten their first-round opponent - No. 8 Independence - on the road without their leading scorer and rebounder.
RADIO
NO. 9 DODGE CITY BREAKDOWN (17-13)
FG% 41.2 (5th KJCCC) | 3FG% 34.4 (3rd) | FT% 64.8 (9th) | PPG 74.8 (5th) | PPG Allowed 65.0 (12th)
STATS LINK
- The Conqs have dropped eight of their last nine contests, including Monday's regular-season finale at Cloud County, 89-56. Blair Johnson led DC3 with 12 points while Amber Espinosa had 11 points - both off of the bench. DC3 committed 28 turnovers, tied for the second-highest total this season.
- Though DC3 has struggled over its last nine games, it will have the confidence of knowing it has already defeated Independence 73-72 on Jan. 2 without leading scorer and rebounder Rachel Slattery (out due to illness). Antania Newton led the Conqs with 26 points while Kyra Fennell and Brittany Leonard each added eight. Fennell aslo had a team-high 13 rebounds and three steals.
- Slattery is sixth in the KJCCC in scoring (14.9), first in rebounding (12.9) and field goal percentage (62.3) and second in blocks (82). The 82 blocks is a new school single-season record.
- Newton is right behind Slattery in scoring in the conference at seventh (14.3) while she is second in 3-point percentage (44.2), third in 3-pointers made (76) and fifth in assists (100).
- As a team, the Conqs lead the KJCCC in rebounding (46.6), are second in 3-pointers made (7.4) and third in assists (16.8) and blocks (4.7).
- Coach Mark James (third season) is 46-47 at DC3 and 13-36 in KJCCC play. NO. 8 INDEPENDENCE BREAKDOWN (14-16)
FG% 43.4 (2nd) | 3FG% 31.5 (7th) | FT% 71.0 (3rd) | PPG 76.0 (2nd) | PPG Allowed 60.4 (8th)
STATS LINK
- Independence enters the Region VI Tournament on a roll as it has won its last four games, seven of its last eight and nine of its last 11. This includes ending its regular season with an 89-58 dismantling of Pratt on Monday. Four Pirates finished in double figures with 5-foot-6 guard Brianna Jackson-Brewer leading the way with 16 points.
- In its loss to DC3 earlier this season, Independence shot just 36.1 percent from the field - including its top scorer Jackson-Brewer going 3-for-14 and finishing with seven points - her third-lowest output of the season. Five-foot-11 Maressah Milum led the Pirates with 14 points and 14 rebounds (nine on the offensive glass).
- Jackson-Brewer is third in the KJCCC in scoring at 15.3 points per game while 5-foot-10 Simone Acosta is 10th in the KJCCC at 13.5 points per contest.
- Along with being the second-highest scoring team in the KJCCC, the Pirates also turn the ball over the second fewest at 14.8 per game.
