A 13-point Allen Community College lead soon evaporated after a flurry of 3-pointers from Neosho in the second quarter. The long-range assault continued after intermission, and the Panthers powered to a 79-74 victory over the Lady Devils.
A win would have moved the Red Devils past Neosho in the Jayhawk East standings, but ACC remains the bottom-dweller at 2-12, two games behind its rival.
“That was even written on the board before the game, that we were one game behind them. But, it is what it is,” ACC head coach Rachel Janzen said.
After a loss in the midweek at Independence, the Lady Devils were hoping to rediscover their groove that helped them earn a win over Cowley last Saturday. In the first quarter, the Red Devils did exactly that.
Brandi Jordan and Ariel Walker led the way in the early goings, scoring 9 and 6 points respectively to help ACC carve a 22-9 first-quarter advantage. But in the second, the Panthers outscored the Lady Devils 23-11 to cut the lead down to 33-32 at halftime.
A trey from Walker gave the Red Devils a 40-37 lead, but it would be their last. The Panthers orchestrated an 11-0 run featuring four 3-pointers to take a 10-point lead before an ACC timeout with three minutes left in the third.
The Panthers notched eight long-range bombs in the period. And when they didn’t fire from deep, they appeared to attack the paint with ease as ACC defenders failed to collapse on the dribble-drive. Neosho led 63-48 heading into the final period.
“Our third quarter killed us. They went on that little run and we looked like we kind of stopped playing,” Janzen said. “That’s one thing we have been fighting with this team is just keeping our heads up. When stuff starts going wrong, we need to keep fighting.”
Janzen applauded the Devils’ fight in the fourth. An and-one finish from Maisie Schroeder brought the Devils within single digits at 66-57. Unfortunately for the Lady Devils, the deficit remained too big of a hindrance to overcome.
The closest ACC came was after Zariah Sango converted 1 of 2 free throw attempts to bring the Devils within four in the final two minutes. But ACC failed to come any closer, losing 79-74.
ACC will take on the Oklahoma Wesleyan’s JV team tonight at home before restarting the conference cycle on Saturday against Butler.
