by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College’s unbeaten women’s basketball season came to an end Saturday at the hands of one of the Lady Blue Devils’ oldest rivals.
Formerly known as Penn Valley Community College, the newly named Metropolitan Community College (MCC) ended KCKCC’s 7-game winning streak with a 79-74 win on the Penn Valley campus.
The Blue Devils (7-1) will try to start a new winning streak Tuesday when they play Allen County in Iola at 6 p.m. with a men’s contest to follow.
The worst quarter of the season led to the Blue Devils’ downfall. Leading 36-33 at halftime, KCKCC was outscored 25-11 in the third quarter and could not overcome a 58-47 deficit.
“This was the result of a culmination of things over the past few weeks and unfortunately, our staff knew this day was coming,” KCKCC coach Joe McKinstry said. “We need to learn how to come in each and every day prepared to work hard and get better. If we are truly going to try and put ourselves in position to be one of the top teams in the country, our group needs to understand the responsibility that comes along with it.”
Turnovers were a big factor in loss – 21 in all to just 16 for the Wolves.
Both teams had 27 field goals but MCC made the most of 41 KCKCC fouls, outscoring the Blue Devils 17-6 from the free throw line.
KCKCC dominated the rebounding 66-28 but shot just 43.5 percent from the field and .342 from 3-pooint. The Wolves were 27-of -57 for 47.4 percent and 8-of-18 from 3-point for .444.
Freshman Brodi Byrd led KCKCC, knocking down five 3-pointers in scoring 17 points. Camryn Swanson added four 3-pointers for 12 pointS and Lenaejha Evans scored 11 on 5-of-5 shooting.
Lillie Moore scored 9 points, Kisi Young 8, Caitlyn Stewart 6 and Nija Collier and Caroline Hoppock 5 apiece to round out the Blue Devil scoring. Young had eight rebounds, Hoppock seven and Moore and Evans six each; Evans led in assists with five.
Five starters accounted for of MCC’s scoring. Snowden Kassidy scored 24 points and grabbed 10 rebounds while Kaylee Vantrump added 23 points to lead the way.