Cloud County Women's Basketball Team Suffers First Loss of the Season at Dodge City

After opening the season with six consecutive victories, the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team suffered its first loss on Saturday, November 23 when No. 9 Dodge City Community College handed the T-Birds a 77-53 defeat inside the Student Activity Center in Dodge City.

The Conquistadors have won seven straight against the T-Birds dating back to 2022. Dodge City improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in KJCCC play with the win, while Cloud County falls to 6-1 overall and 1-1 in KJCCC action.

Dodge City limited Cloud County to just six field goal makes in the first half. The T-Birds were 6-of-29 (20.7 percent) from the floor through the first two quarters of play, including just 2-of-14 (14.3 percent) from behind the arc. Dodge City led 35-25 at halftime.

The Conquistadors pushed its lead out to 20 points at 53-33 on a layup by sophomore Layla-J Cameron with 1:38 remaining in the third. Dodge City outscored the T-Birds 22-9 in the third frame and extended its advantage out to 57-34 entering the fourth quarter.

Cloud County trimmed Dodge City's lead down to 17 points at 61-44 with 7:12 to go following two fourth quarter three-pointers by sophomore guard TiAna Davis. Dodge City answered with a 6-0 run to increase its lead back to 23 points. The Conquistadors then maintained a 20-plus point advantage for the remainder of the game.

Dodge City finished the contest 26-of-58 (44.8 percent) from the field, including going 15-of-30 (50.0 percent) from the floor in the second half. The Conquistadors also finished 6-of-21 (28.6 percent) from three-point range, and 19-of-26 (73.1 percent) from the foul line. Cloud County, meanwhile, was just 15-of-64 (23.4 percent) overall, 6-of-30 (20.0 percent) from long-range, and 17-of-28 (60.7 percent) from the free-throw line.

Davis led Cloud County with 10 points. Freshman Shea Wurtz added nine points and eight rebounds off the bench. Freshmen Bre Frazier and Lilliana Petersen had seven points each. Freshman DaNae Crosby had just two points, but led the team with four assists and four steals.

Cloud County forced Dodge City into 25 turnovers but struggled to capitalize on their miscues. The Conquistadors, however, controlled the glass, outrebounding the T-Birds 47-32. 6-foot-1 sophomore Shorna Preston collected a double-double for Dodge City, finishing with 11 points and a team-high 15 rebounds. Preston also tallied six assists. She was joined in double-figures by Cameron and sophomore Tayah Morgan who had 15 points apiece. 6-foot-3 sophomore Mia Jordan contributed 14 points and six rebounds.

The T-Birds return home to host Barton Community College in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference showdown on Tuesday, November 26. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 pm from Arley Bryant Gymnasium. The Barton Cougars will enter the game 4-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play following an 83-58 road loss to Garden City on November 23.