Nevada, MO. – The Cottey College Comets (9-11, 5-8) basketball team took home a conference win against the Harris Stowe State University Hornets (4-13, 3-9) 57-41at Hinkhouse Gymnasium on January 26, 2023.
The Comets were led in that effort by Claudia Hadlock with 19 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. Also double digits for the comets was Sara Montesdeoca with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and Dally Coulter with 10 points 6 rebounds.
The Hornets were led by Samara Swire with 12 points, 3 rebounds, Autumn Brown with 11 points 3 rebounds, and Toree Jackson with 11 rebounds, 4 points.
Free throws were the difference maker in tonight's matchup at Hinkhouse Gymnasium. The teams went to the line a combined 59 times on a combined 46 personal fouls, including two technical fouls for Harris Stowe. In the fourth quarter, with the game on the line, the Comets managed to keep the Hornets off the line completely, while sinking 58% of their 12 shots from the line in the fourth quarter.
The matchup starts with a quick layup by Ndeye Ndiaye to give the Comets the lead to start the game. Halfway through the first quarter a Claudia Hadlock three pointer for the Comets is answered by a Samara Swire three pointer for the Hornets and the Comets cling to a one point lead. The Hornets take their first lead of the game with another 3 pointer, this time by Destiney Amaefula. Sara Montesdeoca evens the score from the line and Dally Coulter puts the Comets back in the lead. Another Dally Coulter layup with .33 seconds left in the first quarter maintains the Comets lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Comets stay in control for most of the second quarter and take their biggest lead of the half with one minute on the clock as they go up by 5 on a Sarah Hunt layup. Six consecutive made free throws for the Hornets puts them within one point with .05 seconds left on clock. Toree Jackson steals the ball on the inbound and converts the turnover into a basket to put the Hornets up 23-22 and give them some momentum into the half.
The Comets come back out of the half with a five point run to take back control of the game. There are a combined 31 free throws in the third quarter. The Hornets are 5-10 from the line with 5 of their 9 points in the third quarter coming from the line, and the Comets 11-21, with 11 of their 15 points from the line. Through it all the Hornets tie it up, but never take back the lead. Two Claudia Hadlock free throws with .01 left in the third quarter gives the Comets a little breathing room as they are back up by 5.
The Hornets keep in the close to start the fourth and trade shots with the Comets. A Toree Jackson jump shot has the Hornets within 4. It's all Comets from there as they go on a 15 point tear for the remainder of the quarter to go up 57-41. A Samara Swire 3 pointer for the Hornets is the last basket of the game and the Comets outscore the Hornets 20-9 in the fourth quarter to cruise to a 57-41 victory.
Up next for the Comets will be a road game against conference opponent University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Eutectics at the UHSP Gymnasium on Saturday January 28, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
