Nevada, MO. – The Cottey College Comets (10-14, 5-11) basketball team with a tough conference home loss against William Woods University (7-16, 5-11) by a score of 50-43 at Hinkhouse Gymnasium on February 6, 2023.
The Comets were led in that effort by Claudia Hadlock with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Sara Montesdeoca leading the Comets on the boards with 11 rebounds and 7 points.
The William Woods Owls were led by Sydney Booker with a double double scoring 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 assists. Also scoring 13 was Natalie Thomas with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists. Jersee Wren rounding out the double digits for the Owls with 10 points, 6 rebounds.
Sydney Booker with the first basket of the game for the Owls. Lauren Jones quickly answers back with a layup for the Comets to kick off an 8-3 run by the Comets. Another Sydney Booker layup for the Owls puts them back to within 1 point and the first quarter ends with the Comets up 8-7.
It was a defensive duel in the second quarter with only 7 total points, and the Owls outscoring the Comets 5-2. A full four minutes without a basket before another Sydney Booker layup to give the Owls back the lead. Another from the line and a layup from Booker for the Owls gives them their largest lead of the game, up 4. That would be the only baskets for the Owls in the second quarter, with Booker scoring all of the Owls' 5 points in the second quarter. A Ndeye Ndiaye jump shot pulls the Comets back to within 2 in the final minute of the half. Ndiaye would have the only Comet basket of the quarter. The Owls head into halftime, up 12-10.
An immediate layup for Sydney Booker puts the Owls back up by four and gives Booker 10 of the Owls' 14 points so far on the night. The offense would come alive for both teams in the third quarter, with the Comets outscoring the Owls 22-19. The Comets eventually cut the lead to 2 on a Claudia Hadlock 3 and then tie it up at 22 on a Hadlock layup. The Comets pull ahead on a Lauren Jones layup and the Owls tie it back up at 24 on a Jersee Wren layup. The teams are back and forth before they are back even at 31 with .20 seconds left in the third quarter. Nicole Hagerman makes one of two from the line to put the Comets up by 1 going into the final quarter.
The Eagles pull back even and go ahead by 1 on two Sydney Booker free throws. They continue on an 8 point uncontested run before two Hadlock layups and one from the line pull the Comets to within 1 point with under 2 minutes left in the game. Two Sarah Hunt free throws give the Comets the lead with just over a minute left to play. Natalie Thomas from beyond the arc is another lead change to have the Eagles back on top. Almost a turnover, the Eagles recover with a jump ball and Jersee Wren three pointer just as the shot clock buzzes, gives the Eagles a five point lead with .32 seconds on the clock. A costly turnover by the Comets gives the Eagles back the ball and a foul sends Natalie Thomas to the line. Thomas is able to convert two points from the line and the Eagles are up by 7 with .20seconds on the clock. Claudia Hadlock hits a three pointer to pull the Comets to within 6 points, but only .04 seconds left on the clock. The Eagles continue to knock down their shots from the line, with Thomas knocking down 5 of 6 from the line in the final .40 seconds. The Comets are unable to put anymore on the board and the Owls take home the win 50-43.
The Comets are back at home for another conference matchup versus Williams Baptist on Thursday February 9, 2023 at 5:30 pm. An important game for the Comets as a bid to the conference tournament is at stake.
