Lady Tigers enter break with 65-55 win over Garden City

Playing its final game of the first semester, the Cowley College women's basketball team used a 16-2 fourth quarter run to help pull away for a 65-55 win over Garden City Monday night inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

The victory improves Cowley's record to 8-5 overall and 4-4 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Tigers also improved to 7-1 at home.

"This was big for us to get back to .500 in the conference and defend our home floor," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. "Now, we need to be able to do it on the road."

The loss snaps Garden City's three-game winning streak as the Broncbusters are now 10-3 overall and 5-3 in the conference.

Cowley got off to a fast start, leading 20-8 after one quarter of play. The Lady Tigers' lead would grow to as many as 19 points (34-15) before Garden City scored the final six points of the first half.

Cowley maintained a comfortable 43-31 lead before Garden City closed the third quarter on a 13-3 run to pull within 46-44 heading into the final quarter of play.

However, Cowley opened the fourth quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from sophomores Milena Fromming and Baylee Fincher and scored 16 of the first 18 points of the quarter to pull away for the 10-point win.

Lady Tiger sophomore Martyna Kowalska finished with a game-high 23 points and nine rebounds.

"Martyna handled their physicality very well," Clark said. "They tried to frustrate her, but she did a good job of finishing shots and was tough on the boards."

Fincher added 20 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

"Baylee was huge for us and came up big on the glass," Clark said.

Dayshawna Carter led Garden City with 12 points, but went just 4-of-13 shooting from the floor.

Cowley will now have some time off before opening the second semester with a home game against Colby Community College Wednesday, January 5 at 5:30 p.m. Colby is 5-8 overall and 2-6 in the conference.

Box score:

Garden City (55): Ashton McCorry 4-6 2-3 10, Kealani Neves 5-11 0-0 11, Alexis Smith 1-6 0-0 2, Britney Mapang 1-6 0-0 , Donetria McGee 2-7 2-2 6, Derryana Cobbins 1-2 0-0 2, Dayshawna Carter 4-13 4-4 12, Desiree Smith 3-4 1-3 7, Payton Hicks 1-4 0-0 3. Totals: 22-59 9-12 55.

Cowley (65): Milena Fromming 2-4 0-0 6, Baylee Fincher 5-9 8-9 20, Carson Dean 2-4 2-2 7, Shamahra Henderson 3-7 0-0 6, Martyna Kowalska 9-15 5-9 23, Lorette Chene 0-0 0-0 0, Callie Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Isis Vieria 0-0 0-0 0, Jana Radovanovic 0-0 1-2 1, Lexi Rose 0-2 2-4 2. Totals: 21-41 18-26 65.

Three-pointers: Garden City 2-6 (Neves 1-3, Hicks 1-2, McGee 0-1), Cowley 5-15 (Fromming 2-4, Fincher 2-3, Dean 1-3, Rose 0-2, Henderson 0-2, Kowalska 0-1). Rebounds: Garden City 20 (McCorry, McGee 4), Cowley 32 (Kowalska 9). Assists: Garden City 7 (three players with 2), Cowley 11 (Fromming, Henderson 3). Turnovers: Garden City 14, Cowley 18. Total fouls: Garden City 22, Cowley 16. Fouled out: Henderson. Technicals: Garden City bench.