Lady Saints lose heartbreaker to Blue Dragons, 72-70

Lady Saints lose heartbreaker to Blue Dragons, 72-70

LIBERAL, Kan. – The 12th-ranked Seward County Community College women's basketball team lost a heartbreaker to No. 8 Hutchinson Community College, 72-70, on Saturday at a Greenhouse. The loss dropped the Lady Saints into a first-place tie in the Jayhawk West with the Blue Dragons at 13-1. Seward is 18-4 overall and had its home winning streak snapped at 61 games.

The Blue Dragons jumped out to an early 15-2 lead in the 1st quarter and went on a 6-3 lead to end the quarter. Lady Saints started the second half on a 6-0 run to get the game back within single digits, 20-11. With 3:07 left in the quarter, Aquila Mucubaquire knocked down a three to cut the lead down to two, 27-25. Hutchinson took a 36-28 lead at halftime but the Lady Saints outscored them 23-16 in the second quarter. 

With the momentum shifting towards the Lady Saints, they would once again get the game back to one-possession game with Leilani Augmon connecting on a pair of free throws to cut the lead down to one at 44-43. The Blue Dragons went on a 6-0 run to keep the lead and hold off Seward from a lead change. Again the Lady Saints outscored the Blu Dragons in the quarter 24-21 but trailed 57-52 to start the fourth quarter.

The Fourth quarter the Lady Saints took the lead with 6:17 left as Augmon created separation to knock down a mid-range jump shot to take their first lead of the game 59-58. Both teams exchanged baskets in the final 5 minutes and with Seward down 70-67 and only 19 seconds to go, Tianna Johnson hit a three to knot the game at 70. The Blue Dragons answered back for the game-winner on Abby Ogle's layup to take a 72-70 with two seconds remaining. Seward had one final possession but could not get a shot off giving Hutchinson the win.

Karolina Szydlowska had 15 points and Augmon and Johnson each scored 14 for the Lady Saints, who shot 38.6 percent from the field.

Seward took 17 more shots than Hutchinson, holding a 70-53 edge, but the Blue Dragons were much more efficient converting 47.2 percent, compared to only 38.6 percent for the Lady Saints.

Ogle had a game-high 20 points and Makayla Vannett netted 17 for Hutchinson.

The Lady Saints Play at Garden City Community College at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.