Comets dominate Baptist Bible, win by 42

Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Cottey forward Ashleigh Houdyshell saves a ball from going out of bounds during the second half of Tuesday's win over Baptist Bible College at the Hinkhouse Center. Cottey is now 4-0 this season.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Cottey Comets forced 19 first-half turnovers and blew the game open with a 22-0 run as they obliterated the Baptist Bible College Lady Patriots Tuesday, 74-32.

Kayla Orear lays the ball in during Tuesday's Cottey win.

The Comets (4-0) overcame a slow start with a balanced effort as they turned a 9-8 deficit into a 30-9 lead with just under four minutes to play in the first half, and they weren't challenged the rest of the way.

Cottey used an aggressive defense to force turnover after turnover, many coming by simply keeping their arms in the passing lanes, making it difficult for the Lady Patriots to run any offense.

Lacy Leonard was a major beneficiary of the thievery, scoring 14 of her 16 points in the first half, most of them coming in transition after a Cottey steal.

Leonard did her part on the defensive end as well, registering a team-high six steals despite sitting out most of the second half.

Guard Kerri Shanks was an offensive dynamo Tuesday, scoring a team-high 19 points including four 3-pointers. Shanks, who also had five steals, spread her scoring evenly throughout the game, with her first trey spawning the big early run that put the Comets comfortably ahead.

Not all things were good for Cottey. The Comets did fail to score a field goal the first five minutes of the game, finally breaking the ice on a bucket by Elin Lindberg with 14:11 left in the first half to make the score 4-3.

Cottey also missed at least a dozen layups, including eight in the first half.

"I didn't care offensively for the first eight minutes," Cottey head coach Dave Ketterman said. "We are not as efficient as we need to be. We need to finish plays."

Cottey led 41-16 at halftime, and Ketterman was able to give everybody on the bench playing time in the second half. Nine of the 10 players who saw the floor scored.

Players who gave the Comets productive minutes include Liz Wagoner, who grabbed a team best eight rebounds, and Maggie Wigness, who had seven rebounds and four assists.

The Comets had three players scoring in double figures, Leonard, Shanks and Kayla Orear. Orear poured in 13 points.

Cottey has their first road game of the season Friday when they travel to Hesston College (Kan.). Hesston is a new addition to Cottey's basketball schedule this season.

The Comets will be back home Monday when they host Allen County (Kan.) Community College.

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