STERLING, Kan. – The Southwestern College women's basketball team fell at the hands of the No. 24-ranked Sterling College Warriors on Thursday night away from home. It was a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) battle that was lopsided based on the experience levels of each side. When facing the Sterling starting five, the Lady Builders were effectively neutralized in the tilt, as evidenced by excessively strong first and third quarters by the home squad. In the end, the Moundbuilders could not hang with a nationally-ranked foe, falling 84-36.

Southwestern put up a fight in the opening quarter, shooting at an encouraging 5-of-10 (50%) clip. Unfortunately, there was nothing that the SC defense could do to contain the Warrior offensive attack. Sterling sunk 14-of-18 (77.8%) from the floor in the first stanza, and were a perfect 5-of-5 at the free-throw line. The Builders' 10 turnovers certainly did not help their case, as they afforded the Warriors ample opportunities to increase their advantage. After the first frame, the Moundbuilders trailed the Warriors by a score of 35-14.

Neither side played particularly well in the following period, as both sides converted on four field-goal attempts. Southwestern took just 13 shots to Sterling's 21, therefore boasting the better shooting percentage in the quarter. Sterling did sink six shots from the charity stripe, however, which gave them a three-point advantage over the course of the 10 minutes. The 49-25 halftime deficit paled in comparison to the squad's daunting task ahead against a highly disciplined and skillful Warrior squad.

Nothing went according to plan for the Lady Builders in quarter number three, as they failed to put a point on the scoreboard in the frame. They took just eight shots after turning the ball over seven times, as five of those eight tries were from distance. The Warriors posted another great offensive quarter, going 11-of-20 (55%) from the field and 3-of-6 (50%) from long range. They would put up a massive total of 27 points in the frame, which put them up 76-25 with just one stanza left to be played.

Both sides played a large list of substitutes in the final 10 minutes, but the Moundbuilders did manage to outscore the Warriors in the fourth quarter, putting up 11 points to the Sterling squad's eight. Southwestern was 5-of-21 (23.8%) from the field in the final act, while the Warriors connected o just one of their 10 shots for a 10% clip in the fourth frame. When the dust cleared, Southwestern fell to the ranked Warriors, 84-36.

The Builders did not have a player in double-figures in terms of scoring on this night, but both D'Shonda Hunt and Madi Jones led the way for the squad with eight points. The post was working a fair amount for the Moundbuilders in the battle, but they struggled to get the ball there with the hounding defense of Sterling.

Southwestern had just four assists in the tilt, with all four coming from different athletes. Haven Matthews, Airalyn Frame, Hunter Garcia and Kimberly Duhon were each credited with one dime.

Hunt was the squad's leader in backboards, having tallied eight total rebounds. The next-highest total came from Jones, who had five rebounds. Denisha Anderson, Takia Profit and Frame contributed three boards, apiece, and the pair of Heather Chiesi and Emily McElroy added two each.

Nine steals were recorded by the Moundbuilders, as seven of those were split among the five starters. Hunt and Matthews were credited with two steals each, while Anderson, Chiesi, Frame, Jones and Profit were all given credit for one the remaining five. Jones sent away one Warrior shot attempt in the tilt, as well.

The Moundbuilders (4-18, 1-15 KCAC) will return home to face another tough nemesis in Tabor College on Saturday, Jan. 28 inside Stewart Field House. The KCAC tilt will be the final battle of the month of January for the Lady Builders as their season begins to wind down with just six games remaining. Southwestern will be looking for their second conference win of the 2022-23 season.

--buildersports.com--