No. 12 Lady Saints lose road game at Pratt 56-52

PRATT, Kan.- No.12 Seward County Community College women's basketball team unable to get their shots to fall as they lose 56-52 to Pratt Community College and now 19-4 overall, 14-2 in Conference play. With the loss tonight the Lady Saints fall to second in the Jayhawk West behind Hutchinson Community College.

In the first quarter, the Lady Saints were unable to establish their offense against the Beavers defensive zone. The pace of the game was dictated early and established for the rest of the game in Pratt's favor. A low point scoring game with a majority of the game had to run in the half-court set, this is a style the Ladt Saints are not used to playing. After the first quarter, Pratt had a 13-11 advantage and the Lady Saints shot just 21% from the field.

The second quarter looked very similar to the first 10 minutes and the Beavers were able to shoot 54% for the quarter and took a 32-22 lead into the break. In the first half, Seward shot just 7-31 for 22% percent from the field. 

After halftime, the Lady Saints still struggled to establish their offense as the Beavers outscored them 13-12 in the third quarter to take an 11 point advantage to the final quarter.

Seward's offense picked up with a sense of urgency in the fourth to go on a 19-5 run to get within one point, 50-49. The final minute the Lady Saints looked to extend the game with fouls to get more possessions and it worked with the Beavers unable to connect from the free-throw line. Seward went down 53-49 and with a three from Karolina Szydlowska with 17 seconds left got them back within one, 53-52. Seward fouled immediately to send the Beavers back to the free-throw line but this time the Beavers Dymond Mcelrath knocked down both of them to give Pratt a 55-52 lead. Once again the Lady Saints needed a three with less than 10 seconds left but unable to connect and came up short on the road.

The Beavers were led by Rachel Tippens with 12 points and four rebounds.

The Lady Saints were paced by Vanda Cuamba who had a double-double 15 point and 10 rebounds. Szydlowska added 13 points and seven rebounds.

Seward will look to bounce back on Monday against Dodge City at 6 PM in the Greenhouse.