Lady Saints Fall in Conference Opener Against Cloud County

Liberal, Kansas – Jayhawk Conference action began this Saturday on November 18^th and the Seward County Lady Saints women's basketball team opened their conference play on the road inside of the Thunderdome against the Cloud County Thunderbirds where Seward County fell in a close battle 73-68.

After learning their game against New Mexico was changed to a win and improve to 3-0 on the 2023-24 season, the Lady Saints went into the Thunderdome and immediately shocked the Thunderbirds in the opening minutes as back-to-back layups from Kayla Peoples and Xoe Rosalez helped Seward County grow a 16-6 lead halfway through the first quarter. For the next five minutes the Lady Saints continued to pour it on as Allie Myers put the ball on the floor for a drive to the basket for an easy layup that gave Seward County a double-digit lead after the first ten minutes of action.

Sparks kept flying through the second quarter as the Lady Saints exchanged blows with Cloud County as Peoples was able to find some open space for a smooth mid-range jumper to push Seward County further ahead 28-15 before the T-Birds went on a 8-4 run to cut SCCC's lead down to single digits. Jamia Carter made sure that didn't last long though as she was able to connect on a pretty step-back jumper to increase the lead back to eleven with a 34-23 advantage over Cloud County before entering halftime up ten 37-27.

Momentum was in the favor of the green and white of Seward County through the first two quarters, but the T-Birds found some wind beneath their wings to open the third with a 14-4 run and tie the game up at 41-41 before taking their first lead of the game moments later. Ari Gordon was able to cut the lead down to two thanks to a pair of free throws and two more at the line by Allie Myers locked the score up at 52-52 to end the quarter.

The fourth quarter was the same as the third as Cloud County grew their lead to seven as the Lady Saints tried to fight back down 61-54 with six minutes of action remaining. Alianna Colon tried to create some energy for her teammates with a drive by layup on the offensive end and moments later drawing a charge to get SCCC the ball back in their hands. A turnaround jumper by Gordon at the end of the shot clock cut the deficit to 64-60, but it was a free throw battle from there on and Cloud County claimed the win by five 73-68.

Carter led the Lady Saints in scoring with 19 points with Peoples adding 12 while Colon and Gordon each scored 11. Myers once again led the team in rebounds with 12 boards and Gordon was a force on the defensive end, grabbing 4 steals and blocking 2 shots.

Seward County now falls to 3-1 on the 2023-24 season and starts conference action 0-1. They will now turn their attention towards Cowley as they head back to Liberal, Kansas to play inside of the Green House for the first time this season.