by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Being at full strength does matter as Kansas City Kansas Community College’s women proved in a 68-63 win over Southwestern Iowa at Creston Monday night.
Without two of their top three scorers, Brie Tauai and Millie Shade, the Lady Blue Devils dropped a 63-61 home decision to Southwestern in their first game of the second semester Jan. 11.
This time Shade scored 21 points and Tauai 11 as KCKCC boosted its overall record to 16-5 heading into a major home court challenge against Jayhawk leader Labette Wednesday. The only unbeaten team in Region VI play at 4-0 and 19-3 overall, Labette brings a six-game winning streak into the 5:30 p.m. tipoff.
One of three teams with one loss, the Blue Devils (3-1) could move into a virtual tie for first with a win.
KCKCC jumped in front 22-14 in the opening quarter at Southwestern and led all the way. The Blue Devils led 55-44 before turning back a late Spartan challenge in the fourth quarter.
“It’s always nice to go on the road and get a win, especially against a team you’d lost to previously,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We did some good things. We don’t have statistics but I felt we did a better job of moving the ball around and had quite a few assists. But we’re still having trouble finishing, building a big lead and then letting teams get close at the finish. We can’t do that against a good team like Labette.”
In addition to 21 points from Shade and 11 from Tauai, the Blue Devils got 11 points from Aerial Holiday, 8 from Valencia Scott and 7 from Brooklyn Wagler.