Batesville, AR. – The Cottey College Comets basketball team took home a conference win against the Lyon Scots 74-65 in Batesville, Arkansas on January 19, 2023.
The Comets (8-10, 4-7) were led by Sarah Hunt with 30 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists. Ndeye Ndiaye with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist, and Claudia Hadlock with 15 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Scots (7-8, 6-5) were led by Allison Byars with 25 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists, Paige Tate with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and Natalya Kaza with 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist.
The Scots scoring an early 3 points to open the game, but the Comets dominated the remainder of the quarter, scoring 13 unanswered points to take a 13-3 lead with just over two minutes in the first quarter. A sole three pointer by Mari-Hanna Newsom doubled the Scots score to 6, but the Comets tack on another five points to head into the second quarter with an 18-6 lead. The Comets were 43% from the field, including 4-9 from beyond the arc and 100% from the line. The Scots struggled to find the net, shooting only 10% from the field.
The Scots found their way to cut the Comet lead to only 9 heading into the half.
A 7-2 Scot run to open the half has the Scots to with 7 points just a few minutes into the second quarter. The Comets continue to dominate the Scots in the second half by consistently finding the back of the net. The Comets were 57% from the field, 67% from beyond the arc and were without a shot from the line. The Scots were able to close to within 5 of the Comets with just a minute and a half left in the first half on a jump shot by Natalya Kaza. A quick 4 points by Sara Hunt in the remaining minute gave the Comets a cushion heading into the half.
The Comets would maintain control of the game in the third quarter. They shot 61% from the field, including 2-4 from beyond the arc. A 7 point run by the Scots made it a game as they pulled to within four points of the Comets in the third. An 11-2 run by the Comets would cushion their lead to 13, the biggest lead of the game. Traded baskets from there as Cottey held on to an 11 point lead heading in to the final quarter of the game.
An early basket in the final quarter by Kayla Richardson was answered right by a jump shot of her own by Ndiaye Ndeye. Midway through the quarter the Comets had maintained their lead, up 8 on the Scots. The Scots couldn't gain any ground on the Comets as they continue to sink their free throws in the final minutes of the game. The Comets take home the win 74-65.
Up next for the Comets will be a road game against Central Baptist College at 1:00 pm on January 21, 2023. The Comets took the win at home against the Mustangs earlier in the year 64-50.