by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
No. 6 in the latest NJCAA Division II women’s basketball poll, Kansas City Kansas Community College’s unbeaten Lady Blue Devils observed the new ranking Wednesday with a 111-59 win over North Central College.
It was the 15th win in a row for the Blue Devils, who are right back home today for a 5 p.m. contest with the Kansas Nuggets, a team made of former area college standouts. The Blue Devil men are also in action tonight, hosting Wentworth Military Academy at 7 p.m.
The games are the last before Jayhawk Conference play begins next Wednesday at Highland which boasts the No. 7 ranked women’s team. The home opener comes Saturday, Jan. 16, against Johnson County which has the No. 1 women’s team and defending national champion; and the No. 2 ranked men’s team. Those games are at 2 and 4 p.m.
KCKCC exploded out of the box with a record 37-17 first quarter against North Central, at team they had beaten earlier by only 79-68 at Trenton, Mo. Shooting 55.6 percent, the Blue Devils led 57-26 at the half and finished at 53.4 percent in their biggest offensive production of the season. They also had a season low five turnovers while forcing 23 steals including five each by Erin Anderson, Sierra Roberts and Arrica Daye.
Six Blue Devils scored in double figures led by Cheyenne North, 20 points, eight rebounds and five blocked shots; and Erin Anderson, 19 points five rebounds, six assists and five steals. Roberts added 17 points, Brooklyn Wagler and Brie Tauai 15 each and Arrica Daye 11 points, six assists and five steals.
“Probably our best game of the year collectively,” said KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry. “We spent a lot of time since Monday’s game talking about our effort and energy and I think it showed tonight. I was extremely pleased with both the balanced stat sheet and our ball handling.
“With all but one player scoring and everyone with at least one rebound and an assist, it shows that when we are focused we have a lot of players who can do many different things to help us win. And anytime you run the floor and play as hard as we did with so many opportunities for turnovers and make only five, you have to be very pleased with the great job of focusing and decision making.”
Alan Hoskins is the sports information director at KCKCC.