No. 14 Grizzlies coast to 72-41 win over MCC women

EL DORADO, Kan. – Fourteenth ranked Butler Community College raced past the McCook Community College women Thursday in the Butler Classic. The Grizzlies won 72-41.

After the Lady Indians scored the first bucket of the game, Butler scored 10 straight points to lead 10-2 with 4:51 left in the first period and led at the quarter break 19-6. MCC turned the ball over nine times and made just three of 10 shots from the field. 

“We have to have better in the first quarters,” said MCC Coach Brandon Pritchett. “The last two games we have come out flat, we don't have energy, and teams are making easy plays.”

Over the past two games the Lady Indians were outscored 40-18 in the first quarter. On Saturday against No. 22 Casper MCC was outscored 21-12

On Thursday, the Grizzlies carried the first quarter momentum to a 37-16 half-time lead.

MCC responded with a run in the third quarter and cut the 21-point deficit to 13 when freshman Miah Wren (Rangely, Colo.) hit a pair of free throws with 2:58 left in the period cut the deficit to 44-31.

Butler closed out the period with an 8-5 edge over the remainder of the third quarter to lead 52-36. MCC outscored Butler 20-15 in the period but the Grizzlies closed out the game outscoring the Lady Indians 20-5 over the final 10 minutes of the game.

MCC shot 34.8 percent from the field, made just one of 12 triples (8.3 percent) and went eight-for-10 from the free-throw line. MCC had a 31-26 rebound edge but turned the ball over 24 times.

“We had a terrible night shooting the ball and we weren't aggressive getting to the paint or the free throw line,” said Pritchett.

The Grizzlies shot 43.1 percent from the field, made five of 18 shots from the 3-point line (27.8 percent) and made 17 of 24 free throws (70.8 percent).

Freshman Nevaeh Lucero (Thornton, Colo.) saw her first action of the season and came off the bench to lead the Lady Indians with 12 points. In 19 minutes of playing time, the 5-3 point-guard made five of 11 field goals, hit both her free throws and grabbed six rebounds.

“The one bright spot there was Nevaeh. She hasn't played due to a concussion, and she came out and competed,” said Pritchett. “Smallest player on the floor and she got six rebounds. We just need everyone on that same page.”

Sophomore Laia Izquierdo Altimira (Barcelona, Spain) scored nine points. Miriam Wahlqvist (sophomore, Helsingborg, Sweden) led MCC with eight rebounds to go along with four points.

Freshman Claudia Serrador Cortazar (Trapagaran, Spain) had six rebounds and four points. Sophomore Jada Kemm (Henderson, Colo.) had four points off the bench.

The Grizzlies improve to 4-0 on the season.

MCC goes to 2-4 and will continue in the Butler Classic Friday taking on Coffeyville Community College at 4 p.m. The Red Ravens improved to 5-0 with a 79-51 win in the opening game of the Classic Thursday afternoon over the Bethany College JV.

“We need to fix our fouls and turnovers as we play a very good Coffeyville team tomorrow,” said Pritchett. 

Up-to-date information about MCC women’s basketball including livestream links for home games, schedule, statistics, rosters, photos and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com