Iowa Western hands CCCC first consecutive loss, 73-56

A new year did not bring with it new fortunes for the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team.
Cloud County carried a four-game losing streak into semester break, and then suffered a fifth consecutive loss in its first game since December 11, 73-56, to Iowa Western Community College Thursday afternoon in Bryant Gymnasium.
It was the Thunderbirds' second loss of the season to the Reivers as they wrap up non-conference play at 6-9.
Cloud County led just once in the game at 2-0.
Iowa Western (8-8) knocked down three consecutive three-point shots to go on top to stay, 9-2.
Cloud County would close the gap to three points, 11-8, on a basket by Alyssa Castilleja with 4:24 to play in the first quarter.
The T-Birds would not score again in the period.
Iowa Western knocked down two more three-point shots during a 10-0 run that made it a 21-8 game heading into the second quarter.
Led by Jacy Dalinghaus and LaKya Leslie, the T-Birds opened the second period with a 13-4 spurt to get within four points, 25-21.
Dalinghaus and Leslie combined for 11 of those points.
Cloud County, trailing just 27-23, was outscored 8-1 over the final 1:52 of the half and the Reivers led 35-24 at the break.
A jumper by Leslie pulled the T-Birds within nine points, 35-26, 29 seconds into the second half.
Cloud County, missing on five straight field goal attempts and committing four turnovers, scored just three points, all from the free throw line, over the next six minutes.
Iowa Western pumped in 16 points during that stretch, and led 51-29 when LaShawn Sweet scored with 3:38 remaining in the third quarter.
Haven Hamilton made one of two free throws for the T-Birds, and it was 51-30.
The Reivers scored the next five points to go up 56-30.
Cloud County was just 3 of 16 from the field for 19 percent in the third quarter, and trailed 58-34 heading into the fourth.
The T-Birds would get no closer than the final margin of 17 points over the final 10 minutes of the game.
Leslie led four Cloud County players in double figures with 12 points. She also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Dalinghaus scored 11 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Hamilton finished with 11 points and seven rebounds.
Lydia Ostenson added 10 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Cloud County shot just a frigid 24 percent (18 of 75) from the floor and made 18 of 30 free throws for 60 percent.
Sommer Blakemore paced Iowa Western with 22 points.
Solape Amusan scored 18 points for the Reivers.
Jaiden Morris chipped in 11 points and Hayley Berfield scored 10.
Iowa Western hit 27 of 62 field goal attempts for 44 percent and 8 of 11 free throws for 73 percent.
Cloud County will host Northwest Kansas Technical College at 2 p.m. Saturday.