Spotting Kansas City, Kan., Community College’s Blue Devils eight points to open the game Wednesday did not help Allen County Community College’s Red Devil women. Mired in a long losing streak, the Red Devils needed to have a better start.
After Kansas City’s inside game put it up 8-0, the Red Devils played the visiting Blue Devils even in the first half. Allen County trailed 31-23 — eight points — at halftime.
The Blue Devils outscored the Red Devils 33-21 in the second half and walked off with a 64-44 win Wednesday.
Both teams entered the Jayhawk Eastern Division game looking for their first conference win. Allen County is now 0-3 in Jayhawk East action and 2-12 overall. Kansas City is 1-2 and 10-5.
“It’s pretty simple — 22 offensive rebounds to 12 offensive rebounds, 21 to 4 in second-chance points. Plus we had 19 turnovers and they scored 16 points off those,” said Marcus Hicks, ACCC women’s head coach.
“We don’t respect the game and we don’t respect each other. Until our players become accountable for their actions and stop the finger pointing, we’re not going to be successful. We don’t give ourselves an opportunity to do well when we don’t respect each other.”
Allen County climbed back in the game in the first half. Down 25-12, Queona Walker delivered a three-pointer for the Red Devils. Danielle Best had a basket with three minutes left that made it 27-17 then fired in back-to-back treys.
Allen County trailed 27-23 at the 1:30 mark and Kansas City’s starters came back on the court. Alyssa Rushton scored for Kansas City then KCK forced a turnover by Allen County.
The Blue Devils missed a shot in the final 45 seconds but got the offensive rebound to reset. Laci Schreiber scored to put Kansas City up 31-23 at halftime.
Best opened the second half with a three-pointer and Allen County was able to stop Kansas City on its first two trips down the court. It was one-and-done as Allen County controlled the defensive rebounds.
Jazmynn Johnson, who had eight rebounds and eight points for Allen County, pulled her team to within six, 34-28, with 16:23 left in the second half. Unfortunately, the Red Devils’ sophomore post player picked up her third personal foul 23 seconds later and went to the bench.
Allen County never came up with that surge to get any closer. It was 42-33 when Schreiber had three straight baskets for KCK. The Red Devils didn’t have an answer.
Walker led the Red Devils with 14 points, which included four threes. Best had 13 points. Aeriss McNeese had eight rebounds and Maurissa Shaffer had three assists.
Rushton paced KCK with 16 points followed by Schreiber with 14 and Michelle Selbe had 11 points.
Allen County goes to Coffeyville (1-2, 7-8) Saturday.
Allen County (23-21—44) (FG/3-pt): Shaffer 1-0-1-2, Walker 0/4-2-0-14, Wolf 0-0-1-0, Swick 1-0-1-2, Goldson 0-0-1-0, Best 1/3-2-3-13, McNeese 0-3-2-3, Johnson 4-0-5-8, Nisbett 1-0-1-2. TOTALS: 8/7-7-15-44.
Kansas City (31-33—64) (FG/3-pt): Birk 0-0-1-0, Belousova 0/2-0-2-6, Rowan 0-0-2-0, Wham 0-0-3-0, Sobaski 0-1-1-1, Selbe 4-3-0-11, Rushton 3/2-4-1-16, David 1-1-3-3, Greathouse 6-1-1-13, Schreiber 7-0-1-14. TOTALS: 21/4-10-15-64.
Blue Devils down Red Devil women
