Hot-shooting Pratt drops T-Birds, 87-74

PRATT — A Cloud County Community College team that was leading the Jayhawk Conference in points allowed per game was unable to slow down the hot-shooting Pratt Community College Beavers.
Cloud County was allowing just under 53 points per game heading into the conference matchup.
Pratt shot 53 percent (27 of 51) from the field and a sizzling 58 percent (11 of 19) from three-point range on its way to an 87-74 victory Saturday afternoon in Dennis Lesh Sports Arena.
The first conference loss of the season snapped the Thunderbirds’ five-game winning streak. They are now 9-2 overall and 4-1 in the Jayhawk.
Pratt, 7-3 overall, is 2-3 in conference play.
“Give a lot of credit to Pratt. I think they played great,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. “They just consistently hit shots throughout the ball game. And it was uncharacteristic for us. Either we didn’t or couldn’t guard them, especially when we really needed to.”
Pratt came out firing from the opening tip, knocking down its first four shots.
Cloud County was able to keep pace and the game was tied at 12-12 six minutes in.
A three-point shot by Princess Anderson and a three-point play by Isis Sanders gave the Beavers an 18-12 advantage.
Anderson poured in a game-high 33 points in the game.
Te Araroa Sopoaga connected on a three for Cloud County to close the gap to 18-15.
Hitting their final four shots, including three threes, over the final 1:51 of the first quarter, the Beavers used an 11-0 spurt to open up a 29-15 advantage.
Pratt was 11 of 15 from the floor for 73 percent in the first 10 minutes, including six of seven from three-point range.
A three-point basket by Sopoaga, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds, 31 seconds into the second quarter, got the T-Birds within 11 points, 29-18.
Pratt pushed the lead to 36-20 with four minutes to play in the first half.
Cloud County got as close as seven points, 38-31.
Outscoring the T-Birds 11-4 over the final 3:30 of the second quarter, the Beavers took a 49-35 lead into halftime.
Cloud County could get no closer than 11 points in the third period, and trailed 69-58 heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
A three by Emily Acton 35 seconds into the fourth quarter gave Pratt a 72-58 cushion.
The T-Birds put up 23 shots from the field in the final period, to just seven for the Beavers, but made just six of them for 26 percent.
Cloud County did get as close as eight points, 82-74, when Alize Ruiz made one of two free throws with 1:08 on the clock.
Pratt made five of six free throws over the final 58 seconds.
“They just made more plays than we did, we got beat,” Erkenbrack said. “Pratt has got a pretty good team.”
Ruiz scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds for Cloud County.
Josephine Igherighe also finished with a double-double for the T-Birds, finishing with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Lilly Smith added 11 points.
The T-Birds were 25 of 77 from the field for 33 percent and made 7 of 32 three-point attempts for 22 percent.
Sanders tossed in 19 points for Pratt and Jade McAlister scored 10.
Cloud County will host Barton Community College on Wednesday night.