CHANUTE — With 40 seconds left in the game, Allen County Community College’s Red Devils held a six-point lead Wednesday. The ACCC women lost to host Neosho County Community College’s Panthers 62-59 in overtime.
“When you lead by double digits late in the second half and by six with 40 seconds left in regulation, you have to feel good about your chances to win,” said Mark James, ACCC women’s head coach.
“Unfortunately, we just weren’t able to finish this one off.”
The Red Devils missed their final six free throw attempts of regulation. James pointed to a disappointing stint at the line for the Red Devils. They were 8 of 17 “and that won’t get it done on the road.
Allen County led 28-24 after one half of play in the Jayhawk Eastern Division contest. The Red Devils gave up five three-pointers in the second half to the Panthers, who were 8 of 31 from long range on the night.
The Panthers also cashed in from the free-throw line in the second half, including overtime. They went 10 of 19 for the game and in the second half Neosho County downed 6 of 10 to help tie the game at 57-57.
In the extra period, Neosho County outscored Allen County 5-2 and was 3 of 8 from the line.
“In what was certainly an entertaining game to watch from a spectator’s perspective, it was a tough loss for the Red Devil women’s program to stomach,” James said of the game. “I don’t want to take anything away from Neosho County but we definitely let one get away from us.”
James said Neosho County’s “sixth man” — the NCCC student crowd — provided an edge for the Panthers. “When they come to Iola in February, hopefully our crowd can return the favor.”
Allen County is without starting guard/forward Kayla Morton for four weeks with a back injury.
“Brittney Redmond stepped up for us tonight and picked up a majority of that slack,” James said. Redmond hit four three-pointers on her way to a team-high 16 points.
Rackell Goldson scored 15 points and Jamie Peel had 10 points and four steals. Miracle Davis led Allen County with five steals and nine assists.
Davis also grabbed seven rebounds. Hannah Blackwell had six rebounds.
Allen County shot 43 percent, 22 of 51, from the field and had 35 rebounds. Neosho County was 22 of 59, 37 percent, from the field and had 40 rebounds.
Autumn Zenon paced the Panthers with 16 points and Jamica Campbell, who knocked down five threes, had 15 points. Ashley Gorman added 10 points.
