Nevada, MO. – The Cottey College Comets (11-16, 6-13) basketball team took home a win in their final home game of the season against Hannibal-LaGrange University Trojans (4-22, 2-17) by a score of 55-48 at Hinkhouse Gymnasium on February 16, 2023.
The Comets were led in that effort by Claudia Hadlock with a double-double scoring 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 1 assist. Sara Montesdeoca with 10 rebounds, 7 points, and 5 assists.
The Eutectics were led by Ashlyn Vermeer with 20 points, 4 rebounds. Rebekah McCombs with 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 assist. Taylor Flake leading the Trojans on the boards with 8 rebounds.
The Comets out to a fiery lead outscoring the Trojans 16-6 in the first quarter. The Comets were 33% from the field, including going 2 of 4 from beyond the arc and sinking both free throws in the first quarter. The Trojans scoring only 27% from the field, unable to sink either they put up from beyond the arc and unable to sink their lone free throw.
The Comets jump out to a quick lead with a Claudia Hadlock three pointer. The Comets would put up 7 more unanswered before the Trojans finally get on the board with a Rebekah McCombs layup and its 10-2 halfway through the first quarter. A 6-4 run by the Comets plays out the remainder of the first quarter and the Comets head into the second quarter up 10 points.
A defensive battle in the second quarter as both teams put up only 7 and the Comets maintain their double digit lead heading into half. A Sarah Hunt layup is the first score for the Comets in the second quarter and doesn't come until a minute and a half into the quarter. A Sydney Spielbauer jump shot, the first points for the Trojans don't come until four minutes into the second quarter. The teams pepper the remaining 5 points of the half throughout the remainder of the second quarter. The Comets head into the second half still up 10.
The Comets double up the Trojans in the third quarter, putting up 18 to the Trojans 9. The Comets shot 50% from the field, 67% from the three point and didn't attempt a free throw. The Trojans 9 points start off with 5 unanswered from the Comets. The Comets drain 3 three pointers in three minutes on a 11-1 run for the Comets. Both teams trade three pointers and then the Comets add four more unanswered to end the quarter, including a last second steal and layup by Montesdeoca to fuel the Comets into the final quarter, up 19.
The Trojans would cut that lead by 12 in the fourth quarter, but the Comets were tough at the charity line in the fourth going 8 of 10 from the line and cementing a 55-48 win and a ticket to the AMC conference tournament next week.
Up next for the Comets will be their final regular season game of the year against conference opponent Missouri Baptist on Saturday February 18, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.
The Comets honored their lone senior tonight, Yannis Rodriguez a forward from Port Charlotte, Fla. Yannis is majoring in Health and Biomedical Sciences. Yannis is completing her second season with the Comets.
