Huge Comeback For Naught as #9 Lady Saints Tournament Run Cut Short

The #9 Seward County Lady Saints run in the NJCAA Region VI Tournament came to an end on Friday in Koch Arena in Wichita as despite the Lady Saints erasing a 19 point second half deficit, Coffeyville outlasted Seward 78-75 to advance to their first NJCAA National Tournament since 1998 while leaving it up to the at-large selection committee in deciding whether Seward should be in the Big Dance as well or not. 

In a matchup with a bid to the NJCAA National Tournament on the line, it was Coffeyville racing out to an early five point lead on Seward, but the Lady Saints responded and quickly tied the game at 7 three minutes into the action. The Lady Saints continued to score, but couldn't contain Coffeyville on the glass as midway through the first half the Red Ravens were shooting just 27%, but held a 23-9 advantage on the boards to hold a 20-14 lead.  Seward cut the Raven lead to two after back to back drive and scores by Brooklyn Artis and had it down to one before a 6-0 run by Coffeyville before the halftime break gave the Red Ravens a 34-27 lead into the break at half. 

Both teams were cold shooting the ball in the first 20 minutes as Seward shot just 32%, while holding Coffeyville to 29% shooting.  The Lady Saints were 2 for 14 from the three point line in the first half while Coffeyville was 2 for 7.  Coffeyville held a 33-23 advantage on the boards and outscored Seward 11-2 on second chance points in the first half.  Kyndal Davis led Seward with 9 first half points to go along with 7 rebounds while Artis pitched in 8 on 3 of 10 shooting. 

Coffeyville quickly stretched their lead to double digits for the first time as the second half began before five straight points from Daniela Galindo cut it back to a six point contest with 15:46 to go.  Down by seven moments later, the Lady Saints went ice cold and Coffeyville took advantage.  The Red Ravens went on a 15-3 run in just 3:45, blowing their lead open from seven to a game high 19 with 10:31 to go.  Seward remained down 18 with 8:25 left when back to back three pointers from Galindo got them back to within 12.  Then it was Artis' turn to hit from deep as the freshman canned a pair from long distance to make it a single digit game once again at 70-61 with 4:08 left.  A three by Coffeyville made it a 12 point game again, but the Lady Saints kept on fighting, turning up their pressure and causing a pair of Raven turnovers which turned into points for Seward to make it a seven point game with 2:33 remaining.  A huge three from Galindo in the corner made it a 74-70 game and after a defensive stop, the Lady Saints got another big triple, this one from Rebekah Hatchard, her only three point make of the day to make it a one point game, 74-73 with 1:45 to go.  Another Seward defensive stop gave the Lady Saints the ball with 59 seconds left and the Lady Saints cashed in as Axelle Bernard scored at the rim with 48 seconds left to give Seward a 75-74 lead.  Needing a defensive stop for a potential win, the Lady Saints couldn't get one as Chanel Khammarath scored for the Ravens with 22 seconds left to give Coffeyville the lead back 76-75.  On Seward's ensuing possession, the Lady Saints got a good look from the top of the key to take the lead, but it fell way short and Coffeyville cleared the glass with the one point lead.  A positive for the first 19 minutes of the half, but a detriment in the final seconds, the Lady Saints sat facing a one point deficit, had just two teams fouls in the half and therefore were forced to foul five times as time wasted away before the Ravens went to the line for a one and one opportunity.  Eventually the foul limit was reached and Coffeyville went to the line, making both ends of the charities to take a three point lead, 78-75.  Without a timeout left, Seward was forced to improvise on their final possession and a last second three was blocked by the Red Raven defense to finish the game with Coffeyville pulling off the 78-75 upset. 

Neither team was efficient scoring the basketball in the tight contest as Coffeyville shot 37% to Seward's 36% in the game. The difference in the game came on the boards where Coffeyville outrebounded Seward 59-41 and hauled in 25 offensive rebounds, turning them into 21 second chance points.  Artis led Seward with 21 points in the loss while Galindo had 20 for the Lady Saints.  Davis scored 17 and had 11 rebounds while Bernard had another big game on the boards with 14 while scoring 8. 

The Lady Saints fall to 27-5 on the year with the loss while Coffeyville improves to 25-8 with their 12^th consecutive win. With the victory, the Red Ravens clinch a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament for the first time since the 1998 season as well as a trip to the Region VI Championship game versus #1 Hutchinson on Saturday night at 5:00. 

Seward will now play the waiting game to find out if they will be headed to Salina for the NJCAA National Tournament or not as the at-large selection committee weighs their choices on Sunday in a conference call.  The four teams receiving the at-large bids will be released on Monday morning. 

#9 SEWARD COUNTY/COFFEYVILLE BOX SCORE