KCKCC WOMEN REBOUND FROM FIRST SETBACK

                Kansas City Kansas Community College's women rebounded from their first loss with a pair of wins.             

                Unbeaten North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) used spectacular free throwing to hand the Lady Blue Devils their first loss in eight games 91-87 in the Dale Howard Classic in Iowa Falls, Iowa,  Friday before KCKCC defeated host Ellsworth 80-73 Saturday and Wentworth 92-65 Monday. 

The Blue Devil women (9-1) will return to action Monday, hosting Central Methodist's JV at 5 p.m. in their final home game until Jan.4.

NIACC (7-0) converted 31 of 35 free throws to win a furious back-and-forth battle in ending KCKCC's 7-game winning streak. Guilty of 22 fouls including four each on four players, the Blue Devils had four more field goals and three more treys but were outscored from the foul line 31-16.

Imani White led KCKCC with a career and game high 27 points and 10 rebounds while Samantha Hurst added 17 points, Cassidy Harbert 16 and Rashaun Casey 14. Harbert also led with a career high 14 rebounds and handed out six assists while Hurst added five assists and five rebounds.

Down 37-33 at the half to Ellsworth, KCKCC got big second half performances from Casey and Julia Garrard to pull away in the final four minutes. Casey had 13 of her game high 21 points and Garrard 13 of her 15 to lead a 47-point second half comeback.  Garrard also led in rebounding with eight while Hurst contributed 16 points and six rebounds, White 10 points and Harbert eight assists and six rebounds.    

Tied 34-34 at halftime at Wentworth Monday, the Lady Blue Devils exploded for 58 points on 60.5 percent second half shooting.  White led the way with 19 points while Hurst added 14, Harbert 12, Janai Mitchell 11 and Kala Jiggetts and Bailey West 9 each. Garrard led rebounding with nine for KCKCC, which limited Wentworth to 27 percent second half shooting.