No. 8 Lady Saints Tame Grizzlies

LIBERAL, Kan. – The No. 8 Seward County Lady Saints women's basketball team defeated the Butler Grizzlies Wednesday night 72-58, despite turning the ball over 26 times.  Sophomore Mollie Mounsey led all scorers with 21 points, while Vilma Covane (13) joined her in double-digit points.

The Lady Saints (4-0, 2-0) jumped out to an early lead. A lead that they never relinquished.  Just three minutes into the game, Seward was staring at a 9-2 lead. The Grizzlies cut the lead to four with four minutes left in the quarter, but a Mounsey three pointer halted any momentum the Grizzlies might have had. The Lady Saints ended the quarter leading 22-15.

Seward had a quick start to the second quarter, going on an 11-2 run in the first three and a half minutes. The Lady Saints slowed down for the remaining seven minutes, scoring just seven points in that span, but still taking a 40-26 lead into halftime.

In the first half, the Lady Saints hit 56.6% of their shots, while holding the Grizzlies to just 34%. 

The third quarter was the worst for the Lady Saints, shooting just 28.6% from the floor.  Their defense was still able to keep a lead by holding the Grizzlies to just 29.4% from the field.  Despite their shooting percentage, Seward still scored 16 points in the third quarter and extended their lead to 17, leading 56-39 at the end of three.

The Grizzlies wouldn't go away just yet, creeping back into the game and cutting their deficit to just nine points with three minutes left in the game. As has been the story early this season, the Lady Saints had an answer to stop Butler's momentum, this time in the form of a Sidney Tinner three-pointer.

The basket acted as the dagger for the Lady Saints, with Butler eventually losing by 14, 72-58.

The Lady Saints are averaging 22 turnovers per game through the early parts of 2017, but are forcing 28 turnovers per game. The Lady Saints connected on 27 of 62 shooting on the game, good for 43.5%, while holding the Grizzles to 36.5% on 23 of 63 shooting.

The Lady Saints will begin a two-game road stretch, traveling to Cloud County on Saturday (Nov. 18) and Barton next Tuesday (Nov. 21) before returning home to take on the Pratt Beavers two days after Thanksgiving (Nov. 25).