Southwestern Falls to York College in New Year's Opener
Winfield, Kan. (AP) —

Southwestern College Women's Basketball began the New Year with a challenging 80-62 loss to York College on Friday night in Winfield, Kansas. Despite moments of promise, the Builders struggled to counter York's efficient offense and dominance on the boards.

Christy Wiebe led Southwestern (1-9) with a standout performance, scoring 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line while adding six rebounds and two assists. Macy Pond contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and two steals, providing much-needed energy for the Builders. Callie Scott highlighted the defensive effort with four steals in just 23 minutes on the court.

The Builders stayed competitive in the first half, trailing by 11 points at halftime. However, York College's consistent scoring and rebounding proved too much to overcome. Southwestern struggled offensively, shooting just 27.6% from the field while being out rebounded 58-32, allowing York to dominate with second-chance points.

York's Destiny Shepherd paced all scorers with 25 points, including four three-pointers, while also adding six rebounds and four assists. Pasiko Hvichiani posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, solidifying York's control in the paint and on the glass.
After the game, Coach Parker acknowledged the areas for improvement. "We have to get better on defense, and the margin cannot be that big, especially on possessions," Parker said. "We need to focus on taking care of the ball, capitalize on high-percentage shots, and make those shots in the second half."
The Builders will look to bounce back in their next game as they aim to refine their play and find momentum heading into conference match ups