Fincher moves atop most points scored in a career in Lady Tigers win over Pratt

Baylee Fincher, a third-year sophomore member of the Cowley College women's basketball team, etched her name atop the school's record books for most points scored in a career. By scoring 15 points in Cowley's 78-71 win over Pratt on Wednesday, Fincher moved past Theresa Cotton for the top spot.

Fincher, who has scored 1,167 points in her career, helped Cowley rally from 15 points down to stun the Beavers. Cotton, who played at Cowley during the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons, scored 1,160 points in her two-years at Cowley.

"I am really happy for Baylee's accomplishment," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said.

Cowley got off to a slow start as Pratt's Princess Anderson made all four of her three-point attempts in the opening quarter to help the Beavers to a 26-16 lead. Anderson would score the first five points of the second quarter as Pratt's lead grew to 31-16. With both starting guards, Baylee Fincher and Gracie Gilpin in foul trouble, Cowley answered with a 9-0 run and closed within 40-38 at the end of the first half.

"We just tried to survive that first half and were fortunate to be able and make a run," Clark said.

Anderson went 5-of-6 from long range in the opening half and led all scorers with 21 points.

Cowley would grab its first lead of the second half (46-44) on a pair of free throws by Shamahra Henderson before Fincher followed with a three-pointer to help stretch the lead.

The Lady Tigers would take a 58-55 lead into the final quarter of play. After Pratt tied the game at 66-66 on a three-pointer by Emily Acton with 3:25 remaining, Cowley would score eight straight points and hold on for the seven-point victory.

"This was a good team win," Clark said.

Anna Przyszlak (15 points, 11 rebounds) and Carson Dean (13 points, 13 rebounds) recorded double-doubles and helped Cowley out-rebound Pratt 46-37. The Lady Tigers also went 22-of-24 from the free-throw line, while Pratt went just 7-of-14.

Anderson led all scorers with 37 points, but it was not enough as the Beavers are now 11-18 overall and 6-18 in the conference.

Cowley finishes the regular season with a record of 15-15 overall and in ninth place with a record of 10-14 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Lady Tigers will play at eighth-seeded Independence (15-15) Saturday at 2 p.m. in the First-Round of the Region VI Playoffs.

Cowley lost both regular season meetings with the Pirates.

"Indy is a tough matchup for us, we will have to pick up our play," Clark said. "We will find out what we are about and if we want to continue playing."

Box score:

Pratt (71): Macy Hanzlick 2-8 0-0 6, Dejaunee Jackson 0-2 0-0 0, Emily Acton 2-13 1-3 7, Lauren Galliher 0-2 0-0 0, Isis Sanders 5-16 1-3 11, Princess Anderson 13-21 5-7 37, Jalyn Montes 0-0 0-0 0, Reagan Osterhaus 5-8 0-1 10, Celesta Teijema 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 17-71 7-14 71.

Cowley (78): Gracie Gilpin 6-14 2-2 16, Baylee Fincher 5-16 2-2 15, Carson Dean 3-12 4-4 13, Shamahra Henderson 2-11 4-4 8, Anna Przyszlak 4-8 7-8 15, Onnahili Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Lorette Chene 0-0 0-0 0, Callie Scott 0-0 0-0 0, Brooke Perez 1-2 1-2 3, Jana Radovanovic 0-0 0-0 0, Lexi Rose 0-1 0-0 0, N'dack Mbengue 2-3 2-2 6. Totals: 24-69 22-24 78.

Three-pointers: Pratt 10-33 (Anderson 6-9, Acton 2-10, Hanzlick 2-8, Sanders 0-5, Teijema 0-1), Cowley 8-32 (Fincher 3-10, Dean 3-10, Gilpin 2-9, Henderson 0-1, Rose 0-1, Williams 0-1). Rebounds: Pratt 37 (Hanzlick 11), Cowley 46 (Dean 13). Assists: Pratt 13 (Hanzlick, Acton 4), Cowley 15 (four players with 3). Turnovers: Pratt 8, Cowley 13. Total fouls: Pratt 19, Cowley 13. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.