by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
With sophomore Nija Collier leading the way, Kansas City Kansas Community College got a measure of revenge for one of last season’s most disappointing losses Saturday.
Turning in one of the best first half performances in Blue Devil history, Collier scored 31 points including four 3-pointers, pulled down 18 rebounds, blocked six shots and added three steals and three assists in a 109-69 win over North Central Missouri in the final round of the Keith Lindsey Classic.
“One of the best individual performances I’ve seen in my four years. She gave us a spark when we needed it,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “She always plays with energy and gives maximum effort. Today she was making threes, finishing around the rim and cleaning up rebounds.”
Collier had 22 points including 3-of-3 from long range, 12 rebounds and three blocks in leading KCKCC to a 52-37 halftime lead. She finished the night 9-of-14 from the field, 4-of-5 from 3-point and 9-of-9 from the foul line.
The win ran the No. 9 ranked Blue Devils’ record to 5-0 heading into another tough test Tuesday when they face Des Moines Area Community College in Boone, Iowa, before returning to host Saint Mary junior varsity Thursday at 7 p.m.
Collier got lots of offensive help from freshman Lenaejha Evans, who had 21 points, nine rebounds and four assists, and sharpshooters Camryn Swanson and Brodi Byrd, who each had four 3-pointers, Swanson finishing with a career high 19 points and Bryd 12. Caroline Hoppock added eight points, Lillie Moore seven points and seven rebounds and Kisi Young eight rebounds and four assists.
“This is the same North Central group that beat us at home (69-67) last year and our returners remembered that,” McKinstry said. “It was a game they felt they gave away with costly turnovers and fouls and they took it personally.”
North Central coach Jennie Croy was impressed.
“That’s easily the best team we’ve played this year,” said Croy, whose Lady Pirates are 1-3 against Jayhawk Conference foes, losing to Fort Scott 75-66 and Johnson County 81-61 while defeating Hesston 65-60 in the Classic.
With Collier, Swanson and Byrd each netting four three-point goals and Hoppock two, the Blue Devils finished with 15 three-pointers, one off the single game record.
“We were 15 of 18 for 38.5 percent, which I was pretty happy with,” McKinstry said. “They played a zone so you have to make shots and we did that tonight. And the part I really loved was 20 of 23 free throws. That’s 48 of 58 the last two days, which is huge.’
Other pluses included 20 offensive rebounds, a 58-35 domination of the rebounding and only seven second half turnovers after 11 the first half.
