Lady Tigers rally from 18 points down to defeat Garden City 83-79

Getting a season-high 30 points from sophomore Baylee Fincher, the Cowley College women's basketball team rallied from 18 points down against Garden City to knock off the Broncbusters 83-79 Wednesday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

After a tough first half, Cowley erupted for 52 second-half points en route to the come-from-behind victory.

"We finally figured out what to do as a coaching staff, and I was pleased with the kids; they fought really hard," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. "That was a good win for us."

A three-pointer at the first-quarter buzzer by Garden City's Stevi Yancy gave the Broncbusters a 22-9 lead. Garden City's lead would grow to 27-9 early in the second quarter before Cowley pulled within 43-31 after one half of play.

Yancy led all scorers with 16 first-half points, while Fincher went 3-of-5 from long range and led Cowley with 13 points in the game's first 20 minutes. Cowley would chip away at the lead in the third quarter and trailed by only one point (60-59) heading into the final quarter of play.

Trailing 67-66 early in the third quarter, freshman Anna Przyszlak scored five straight points to key an 11-1 Lady Tiger run that put Cowley ahead 77-68. However, Garden City would pull within 81-79 and had the ball in the game's final seconds. With a chance to tie the game, the Broncbusters' Taya Davis missed a shot inside, and Fincher was fouled after grabbing the rebound.

Fincher would make both free throws, capping her 30-point night and sealing the victory for the Lady Tigers. Fincher, who went 10-of-10 from the foul line, has now scored 1,089 career points in a Cowley uniform. She is only two points away from moving past Ann Marie Smith (1,090 points) into second place on the all-time scoring list.

Playing with her parents from France in attendance, Lady Tiger sophomore Lorette Chene scored all 12 of her points in the second half.

"Lorette hit some big shots down the stretch," Clark said.

Przyszlak also played well, finishing with 14 points and nine rebounds.

"Everybody played hard and got after them," Clark said. "I am pleased with the kids for continuing to fight."

Dayshawna Carter led five Garden City players in double figures with 20 points.

Playing just hours after the funeral service for long-time Tiger Booster Janice Hitchcock, Clark said this game was for her and her husband, John.

Cowley will remain home to face last-place Colby Community College Saturday at 1 p.m. The Trojans have lost 24 games in a row since opening the season with a victory over Northeastern Junior College.

Box score:

Garden City (79): Taya Davis 2-8 3-6 7, Demi Black 3-11 4-7 10, Keyhana Turner, 4-8 2-2 10, Ariyah Brooks 6-9 1-2 13, Stevi Yancy 7-16 0-0 19, Sidney Scruggs 0-0 0-0 0, Dayshawna Carter 5-11 9-11 20. Totals: 27-63 19-28 79.

Cowley (83): Lorette Chene 4-8 2-2 12, Baylee Fincher 8-24 10-10 30, Carson Dean 1-5 4-4 7, Shamahra Henderson 3-7 0-0 6, Anna Przyszlak 6-14 0-0 14, Gracie Gilpin 3-7 0-0 7, Onnahili Williams 0-0 -0 0, Brooke Perez 1-1 1-2 3, Jana Radovanovic 1-5 0-0 2, Lexi Rose 0-0 1-2 1, N'dack Mbengue 0-0 1-2 1. Totals: 27-71 19-22 83.

Three-pointers: Garden 6-16 (Yancy 5-13, Carter 1-3), Cowley 10-29 (Fincher 4-11, Chene 2-5, Przyszlak 2-5, Gilpin 1-3, Radovanovic 0-2, Henderson 0-1). Rebounds: Garden 38 (Black 14), Cowley 38 (Przyszlak 9). Assists: Garden 14 (Davis 7), Cowley 13 (Fincher 4). Turnovers: Garden 16, Cowley 15. Total fouls: Garden 19, Cowley 25. Fouled out: Przyszlak. Technicals: none.