Lady Tigers knock off Cloud 77-64, finish fourth in Jayhawk East

With the sophomore members of the Cowley College women's basketball team recognized prior to their final regular season home game on Wednesday, it was fitting that the sophomores played a major role in the Lady Tigers' 77-64 win over Cloud County.

Cowley led Wednesday's game 15-10 at the end of the first quarter and increased its lead to 36-24 at the end of the first half thanks to holding the T-Birds to 32 percent shooting and 13 turnovers.

Lady Tiger sophomore Kalyne Daniels would score nine of her team-high 19 points in the third quarter as Cowley maintained a 12-point lead (54-42) heading into the final quarter of play.

Cloud County pulled within 62-59 following a basket by Le'Yanna McGinnis with just under four minutes remaining. However, Cowley would answer with a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to pull away for the 13-point win.

Along with Daniels' 19 points, fellow sophomores Jayden Marlnee and Seanna Boltz chipped in with 13 points apiece. Cowley head coach Todd Clark also complimented the play of sophomore Teagan Brouwer, who played physical defense and finished with four points and a team-high seven rebounds.

"All of those sophomores gave us a huge lift," Clark said.

Freshman Baylee Fincher also played well as she scored eight of her 16 points in the fourth quarter. Fincher added five steals and four assists.

"Baylee is starting to figure things out and beginning to understand what we are asking of her," Clark said.

Cowley, 14-8 overall, finishes the regular season with a 12-8 conference record.

T-Bird sophomore Le'Yanna McGinnis led all players with 26 points and 13 rebounds. However, the remainder of the Cloud County squad combined to shoot only 33 percent from the floor. Cloud County is now 10-11 overall and 9-11 in the Jayhawk East.

Cowley will host Pratt Community College in the First Round of the Region VI Tournament on Monday. The Beavers are 8-13 overall and finished 7-13 in the Jayhawk West. The time of the game has yet to be determined.

The Lady Tigers won 81-66 at Pratt back on February 20.

"Pratt is a quality opponent and anytime you have a one game set up anything can happen," Clark said. "We are happy to be playing at home. We just need to find a way to compete and win."

Box score:

Cloud (64): Sydni Keys 4-10 3-4 13, Rori Cox 3-7 0-2 7, Alyssa Castilleja 1-4 0-0 3, Le'Yanna McGinnis 12-17 2-2 26, Kennedy Becker 3-8 0-2 6, Branda Boakye 1-5 1-2 3, Isabella Vazquez 1-4 1-2 3, Idalis Lee 1-3 1-4 3. Totals: 26-58 8-18 64.

Cowley (77): Baylee Fincher 5-12 5-6 16, Jayden Marlnee 2-6 9-10 13, Seanna Boltz 4-11 2-2 13, Shamara Henderson 1-3 1-1 3, Martyna Kowalska 2-3 0-0 4, Kalyne Daniels 8-12 3-7 19, Shontrice Austin 0-0 1-2 1, Milena Fromming 0-1 0-0 0, Ryley Beard 1-1 2-2 4, Teagan Brouwer 2-5 0-0 4, Torri Vang 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-54 23-30 77.

Three-pointers: Cloud 4-13 (Keys 2-5, Cox 1-3, Castilleja 1-3, Vazquez 0-1, Lee 0-1), Cowley 4-14 (Boltz 3-8, Fincher 1-4, Fromming 0-1, Henderson 0-1). Rebounds: Cloud 32 (McGinnis 13), Cowley 35 (Brouwer 7). Assists: Cloud 16 (Becker 5), Cowley 10 (Fincher 4). Turnovers: Cloud 27, Cowley 24. Total fouls: Cloud 20, Cowley 16. Fouled out: Cox. Technicals: Daniels.