DODGE CITY, Kan. – Honoring four sophomores prior to tip-off, the Dodge City Community College women's basketball team had their home-finale spoiled by No. 4 nationally-ranked Seward County Community College in a 97-48 loss at the Student Activities Center in Dodge City on Saturday, February 25th.
DC3 is now 4-25 overall and 4-21 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while the Lady Saints improved to 28-1 overall and 24-1 in the KJCCC.
Seward County would score four quick points just 30 seconds into the game and lead 4-2 with 9:16 left in the first quarter before going on a 13-2 run to take a 17-4 lead midway through the opening period. Dodge City would manage to hit open shots when given the opportunity, but could not overcome eight Lady Saint points off turnovers and eight SCCC fast break points. Seward County would take a 32-13 lead into the second quarter before continuing to pressure the Conquistadors, who would end the first half with 10 turnovers. After scoring five of the first seven points, Dodge City would hit just one field goal over a five minute span while allowing the Lady Saints to take a commanding 45-20 lead with 3:16 left before halftime. SCCC would end the half on a 13-2 run thanks in part to 15 first-half points by Neidy Ocuane and a 24-21 rebounding margin.
Using a platoon system to start the second half, Seward County would race out to another quick start by scoring the first nine points while not allowing a Dodge City field goal until 2:51 into the second half. Leading 70-31 with 4:45 remaining in the third, Seward County would match the Conquistadors down the stretch to outscore DC3 10-7 and take an 80-38 lead into the fourth. Wore down from only having two available subs in the game, Dodge City would manage to score just 10 points in the final 10 minutes of play while Seward would look ahead to a quick turnaround of having to on Monday night by resting their starters down the stretch while cruising to a comfortable victory.
Seward County finished 38 of 81 (46.9%) from the field compared to 16 of 76 (21.1%) for the Conquistadors, who would see four of their 16 made field goals come from behind the three point line. SCCC would hold a 54-49 advantage on the glass and score 21 points off of 24 DC3 turnovers. Fast break points would also be a key to the game, with the final tally in favor of the Lady Saints by a total of 25-2.
Alexus Johnson led the Conquistadors with 16 points and nine rebounds to fall just one rebound shy of a double-double while
Sada Smith had 12 points and seven boards.
Mariah Watkins had eight points while
Christina Frick had seven rebounds.
DC3 will end the regular season with a 5:30 p.m. game on Monday, February 27th at No. 2-ranked Hutchinson Community College. The Conquistadors, who are locked into the No. 14-seed in next week's NJCAA Region VI Tournament, will find out their opponent following the conclusion of Monday night's conference games.
