by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Their two-game losing streak ended in a 76-38 win at Missouri Valley junior varsity, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Lady Blue Devils continue on the road as they return to Jayhawk Conference play at Labette Saturday at 2 p.m.
Despite being without leading scorer and rebounder Cheyenne North with an injury, the Blue Devils raced to a 21-4 first quarter lead over Missouri Valley to boost their season’s record to 16-2.
“It was nice to get back in the win column after last week’s setbacks,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We wanted to use this game to work on a few things we should have done better against Highland and Johnson County.”
The Blue Devils got big performances from Brooklyn Wagler, Erin Anderson and Brie Tauai. Wagler, who was 6-for-6 from the field including all three three-point attempts, led with 18 points; Anderson had 17 points and six steals; and Tauai her first career double with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
“Brooklyn Wagler continued from her great week last week and it was nice to see Brie Tauai knock down shots from all over the court as well as having a big rebounding game,” McKinstry said. “And Erin Anderson continued to what she has all year and that’s a little bit of everything.”
McKinstry was particularly pleased with 17 Blue Devil assists on 26 field goals led by Janay Jacobs with four.
“Missouri Valley played a man-to-man defense the entire game and that assist number tells me that we moved the ball well and were very unselfish,” he said.
Saturday’s game at Labette is the first of two in a row on the road. The Blue Devils are also at Brown Mackie next Wednesday before returning home against Fort Scott Jan. 30.
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.