Conquistadors defeat CCCC, 84-69

DODGE CITY — A grueling stretch to close out first semester play came to a close for the Cloud County Community College women’s basketball team with an 84-69 Jayhawk Conference loss to 16th-ranked Dodge City Community College Monday night in the Student Activities Center.
Cloud County, playing four games in eight days, suffered four consecutive losses to fall to 9-5 overall and 4-4 in Jayhawk Conference play.
The Thunderbirds are now off until January 4 when they are on the road to play Coffeyville Community College.
Dodge City, 12-2 overall, is now 7-1 and in first place in the conference.
“Dodge City is legitimately a very good team,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. “They have got a tremendous number of weapons.”
Cloud County led 7-5 in the game when Dodge City knocked down four three-point shots during a 20-6 run to go up 25-13.
The Conquistadors connected on 14 of 36 three-point attempts in the game while the T-Birds were 5 of 26.
“They (Conquistadors) obviously shot the ball very well. Some of that was our defense but a lot of it was them just shooting the ball in the basket.”
Baskets by Te Araroa Sopoaga and Sarah Lawless pulled Cloud County within eight points, 25-17.
Paris Santacaterina made two free throws to give Dodge City a 27-17 lead going into the second quarter.
Cloud County would pull to within five points, 30-25, when Lilly Smith hit a three-point shot with 4:18 to play in the first half.
Dodge City knocked down three threes and made five of six free throws in outscoring the T-Birds 16-3 over the final 3:29 of the second period to extend its lead to 46-29.
The Conquistadors extended the lead to 51-30 in the first 1:50 of the second half.
Baskets by Josephine Igherighe and Smith left Cloud County trailing 51-34.
Jena Rose Mafua hit a pair of threes during a 10-1 Dodge City spurt that made it a 61-35 game.
The two teams would trade baskets over the final 4:42 of the third quarter, and the Conquistadors led the T-Birds 71-46 heading to the fourth.
‘We were definitely a step or two slow. We have had a number of our core people who have played way too many minutes here in the last eight days and it has taken its toll,” Erkenbrack said.
Cloud County poured in 23 points in the final period to 13 for Dodge City.
“I thought we showed some competitive spirit there at the end of the third quarter and into the fourth quarter,” Erkenbrack said.
Sopoaga led four T-Birds in double figures with 17 points. She also had nine rebounds.
Smith scored 15 points.
Alize Ruiz finished with 12 points and nine rebounds and Jessi Brummett tossed in 10 points off the bench.
Cloud County shot just 33 percent (23 of 69) from the field and made 18 of 25 free throws for 72 percent.
Jenna Rose Mafua scored 18 points for Dodge City.
Leah Mafua tossed in 15 points for the Conquistadors, and Bree Stephens added 11 points.
Dodge City was 28 of 62 from the floor for 45 percent and 14 of 21 from the line for 67 percent.