Seward County storms back from down 21 to defeat Dodge City

LIBERAL, Kan. - Seward County Community College stormed back from a 21-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat Dodge City Community College 76-75. The Lady Saints tied the game after a Halima Salat three 75-75 with nine seconds left. After a Conquistadors turnover, Tiana Winn got fouled with .3 seconds left and made the game-winning free throw. Seward County improves to 3-3 on the year and 2-1 in the KJCCC. The Lady Saints will travel to Concordia, Kansas, to take on Cloud County Community college on November 30th and 6 p.m.

D'Arrah Allen led the team with 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists. Halima Salat had 17 points, De'Shawnti Thomas had 13 points and four rebounds, and Kylee Hunt added 11 points. 

The Lady Saints went down early, 12-5, to the Conqs halfway through the first half. Seward County looked to get their offense started and, after a three by Allen, cut the lead down to a one-possession game, 14-11 at the four-minute mark. Dodge City responded with a 9-3 run and led 24-14 with thirty seconds left in the opening quarter. Seward County went into the second quarter down by ten, 26-16. 

At the start of the second quarter, the Lady Saints and the Conquistadors stayed around a ten-point game for the first three minutes, 30-20. Dodge City went on a 7-0 run to lead Seward County 37-20 with four minutes left before halftime. The Lady Saints continued to battle, and after a pair of free throws by Thomas cut the lead to single digits, 37-28, after an 8-0 run of their own. A last-second three by the Conqs put them in the lead 40-30 over the Lady Saints at halftime. 

Seward County and Dodge City exchanged baskets at the start of the third quarter and, after a Tiana Winn field goal, cut the lead back to ten, 46-36, with 5:17 left. The Conqs went on a 13-2 run and took their largest lead of the game, 59-38, with two minutes left in the third quarter. Seward County responded with a 10-2 run to close out the third quarter and cut the Dodge City lead down to 61-48.

In the final quarter, the Lady Saints trailed 66-48 with nine minutes left. Halima Salat knocked down a three during the Lady Saints' 10-0 run to cut the lead down to single digits, 66-58. After the Conqs took a 70-58 advantage with 4:50 on the clock, the Lady Saints continued to fight back as Kylee Hunt made a layup to get Seward County down 73-65 with 2:30 left. With 30 seconds left Hunt connected on a pair of free throws to get the Lady Saints down 75-73 as Seward County went on an 8-2 run.

After a Dodge City turnover, Seward County had the ball with nine seconds left, and Allen threw a perfect pass to Salat for a left corner three that tied the game at 75-75 with four seconds left. The Conqs turned the ball over again, possibly giving the Lady Saints three seconds to win the game. 

Tiana Winn attacked the basket and drew a foul with .3 seconds left in the contest. Winn connected on the second free throw to give the Lady Saints a 76-75 lead, their first lead since the eight-minute mark of the first quarter. Allen stole the Dodge City inbound to secure the victory in the Greenhouse. 

The Lady Saints will travel to take on the Thunderbirds on Wednesday, November 30th, at 6 p.m. CT in Concordia, Kansas.