Allen Community College’s women have taken their lumps on the basketball court this season.
So it would have been safe to assume the one-win Red Devil squad was in for a rough ride Saturday against unbeaten and ninth-ranked Butler County Community College.
But that’s why they play the game.
Allen stayed within an arm’s length of the powerful Grizzlies squad until tiring down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
The lull allowed Butler to end the game on a 20-9 mark in what became a 93-65 victory.
The margin is not indicative of the game’s competitiveness, ACC head coach Rachel Janzen said.
“We played really well against them for 30 minutes,” Janzen said. “We just got tired.”
Butler took control down the stretch by capitalizing on its tall and talented frontcourt.
“They’re just so big,” Janzen said.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils’ key post player, Adji Mbaye, returned to the lineup for the first time since Feb. 22 because of an ankle injury. She played just 11 minutes, part by design as she continues to recover, and part by necessity. She fouled out, having scored six points in those 11 minutes.
Picking up the slack was a balanced scoring effort for the Red Devils. Hallie Reed drilled four 3-pointers — three in the first half — to keep Allen close. Butler’s buzzer-beating putback at the half pushed the Grizzlies up 43-33.
Madisyn Holloway gave the Red Devils a spark after intermission. She scored four straight points midway through the third quarter, slicing the lead to six.
Allen poured in 23 points in the third quarter alone, but Butler still managed to extend its lead by consistently feeding the post for easy buckets. The Grizzlies led 73-56 after three.
“I know they’re good,” Janzen said of Butler. “They’ve been pummeling people.”
“I was proud of them,” Janzen added of the Devils. “They played so hard. If we play like that every game against a top-ranked team, it’s a different ball game for us.”
