LADY BLUE DEVILS LEARN VALUABLE LESSON THE HARD WAY

            Kansas City Kansas Community College's women learned a valuable lesson the hard way Jan. 13 – that a glitzy record and lengthy winning streak only guarantee the best efforts from opposing teams.

            Taking advantage of KCKCC mistakes, Wentworth Military Academy rallied in the second half to snap the Lady Blue Devils' nine-game winning streak 83-75. It was only the second loss in 18 games for the Blue Devils, who are ranked No. 9 nationally.

            It was a case of self-destruction for the Blue Devils, who committed a season high 35 turnovers including 22 in the second half when the game was on the line. KCKCC had a comfortable 42-34 lead at halftime and looked well on the way to repeating an earlier 92-65 win at Wentworth.

However, the roof fell in the second half as Wentworth outscored the Blue Devils 15-2 in the first five minutes for a 49-44 lead and never trailed thereafter. Closest KCKCC could get was a 65-65 tie with 5:26 left but Wentworth scored the next five points and finished the game with an 18-10 run.

The loss was especially painful because the Blue Devils totally dominated the rebounding 58-38 and shot 45.1 percent to .373 for Wentworth. But it wasn't enough to overcome the avalanche of turnovers and 8 of 19 free throwing (although Wentworth was only 23 of 40)..

KCKCC got double doubles from Iland Shurn, 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Bailey West, 14 points and 10 rebounds while Janai Mitchell and Julia Garrard just missed, Mitchell with 17 points and 9 rebounds and Garrard with 13 points and 9 rebounds.