Dodge City women's basketball capped another historical season under Head Coach, Landon Steele with a tough second-round 69-68 loss to #2 Wabash Valley at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.
The loss ends the Conquistadors season with a 27-7 record and the program's first-ever win at the National Tournament coming in the first round against East Georgia State. Also marks the first time since 2004-05 and 2005-06 the program has had back-to-back 20 wins seasons, while also being the most wins in back-to-back seasons in school history with 56.
It was a slow start to the contest for both teams as it was 5-5 nearly halfway through the first quarter of action but the Conqs led by Parris Atkins pushed ahead working a 10-6 lead by the first media timeout. Atkins had seven of the team's first 10 points and helped the Conqs lead 17-12 at the end of the first quarter. The lead expanded to double figures in the second stanza as the Conqs opened the frame on a 7-2 run to lead 24-14 but the lead was cut down to two midway through the quarter. By halftime, the Conqs led 44-31 closing out the first half on an 11-0 run. In the third quarter, the Conqs would continue to hold Wabash Valley at bay maintaining a sizeable lead and were up 63-52 entering the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter however would be full of struggles for the Conqs who would be unable to get shots to fall and turnover the ball leading to a 17-5 quarter and ultimately Wabash Valley stealing the win 69-68 as the Conqs' late attempts fell short at the end.
In the loss, the Conqs shot 33.3% from the floor while Wabash Valley shot only 29.3% with most other stats nearly even between the two teams.
Atkins paced the Conqs with a double-double recording 22 points and a career-high 11 rebounds along with five steals, while Paris Santacaterina chipped in a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds along with three assists. Kyriana Jones added 13 points and eight rebounds, while Shorna Preston off the bench had six points, five rebounds, and four blocks.
The loss ends the Conqs season in the second round of NJCAA DI National Tournament as they capped another historic year etching their names in the Conq record books.
