Smith, Carter lead Garden City to 65-54 win over Lady Tigers

Playing at Garden City Community College on Monday, the Cowley College women's basketball team could not slow down Garden City's Destiny Smith and Dayshawna Carter as the duo scored 22 points apiece to lead the Lady Broncbusters to a 65-54 home win.

Smith and Carter were the only two Garden City players to attempt a three-pointer as they combined to go 9-of-16 from beyond the arc. Smith entered the contest averaging just 2.9 points per game but finished with a season-high on 6-of-10 shooting from three-point range.

Cowley trailed by as many as 10 points (18-8) in the opening quarter before pulling within 26-25 at the end of the first half.

A three-pointer by Smith in the closing minute of the third quarter increased Garden City's lead to 45-39.

The Tiger's deficit remained at six points (58-52) following a jumper by freshman Gracie Gilpin with 2:09 remaining. However, Cowley went 1-of-7 from the floor over the final two minutes, and Garden City held on for the win.

The Lady Tigers shot just 35 percent from the floor and have scored more than 60 points just once in its past seven games. Sophomore Baylee Fincher led Cowley with 14 points, while Gracie Gilpin and Carson Dean added 12 and 11 points, respectively.

Broncbuster point guard Taya Davis finished with 11 points, and 13 assists as Garden City made a season-high nine three-pointers. Garden City is now 7-7 overall and 3-5 in the Jayhawk Conference.

Cowley has dropped three games in a row to fall to 7-7 overall and 2-6 in conference play. The Lady Tigers will have some time off before playing at Colby Community College on Wednesday, January 4, at 5:30 p.m.

Box score:

Cowley (54): Gracie Gilpin 5-9 0-0 12, Baylee Fincher 6-15 2-3 14, Carson Dean 3-9 2-2 11, Shamahra Henderson 2-9 0-0 6, N'dack Mbengue 0-0 0-0 0, Stasia Duque 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Perez 1-2 0-1 2, Anna Przyszlak 1-7 7-10 9. Totals: 18-51 11-16 54.

Garden City (65): Sidney Scruggs 1-3 1-2 3, Taya Davis 4-9 3-4 11, Dayshawna Carter 6-13 7-9 22, Keyhana Turner 0-6 1-2 1, Ariyah Brooks 3-7 0-0 6, Destiny Smith 7-12 2-5 22,

Three-pointers: Cowley 7-17 (Dean 3-7, Henderson 2-3, Gilpin 2-3, Fincher 0-4), Garden 9-16 (Smith 6-10, Carter 3-6). Rebounds: Cowley 30 (Przyszlak 7), Garden 28 (Brooks 9). Assists: Cowley 13 (Henderson 4), Garden 17 (Davis 13). Turnovers: Cowley 15, Garden 12. Total fouls: Cowley 15, Garden 19. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.