KCKCC WOMEN END 16-GAME ROAD LOSING STREAK AT INDY 63-58

            Kansas City Kansas Community College's Lady Blue Devils exorcised yet another road demon Wednesday with a 63-58 win at Independence.

            The win snapped a 16-game KCKCC losing streak at Indy dating back to the 1996-97 season. The Blue Devils have defeated the Lady Pirates three times at home during that span, the last a 41-35 win Jan. 27, 2008.

            The win improved the Blue Devils' overall mark to 18-2 and kept them just a half-game back of Johnson County (5-0) in the Division II race at 4-0 and second behind JCCC in the Jayhawk Conference chase at 4-1. Back home against Neosho County Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m., the Blue Devils then go on their longest road swing with games at Fort Scott Jan. 28, Johnson County Jan. 31 and Labette Feb. 4.

            Cheyenne North, a 5-11 freshman forward from Gallatin, Tenn., led the way at Indy with a career high 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting. "Cheyenne came to play, making a statement early by scoring our first six points," said KCKCC Coach Valerie Stambersky.

            Six vital points because Indy held KCKCC scoreless the first four minutes and led 6-0. "Once we got the lead, we were able to keep it the rest of the way," said Stambersky. Leading 30-27 at the half, the Blue Devils stretched the margin to 10 with eight minutes left and Indy could get no closer than four points the rest of  the way.

            "Sierra Roberts had a 3-pointer off an in-bounds play that was huge and Julia Garrard a big basket in the second half," said Stambersky.

            Cassidy Harbert, Cierra Gaines and Rashaun Casey each added eight points and Janai Mitchell six to the well-balanced KCKCC attack. Harbert and Mitchell also had seven rebounds, Erin Anderson six and North and Garrard five each as the Blue Devils dominated the boards 45-30. Gaines led in assists with five.