The shorthanded Ladyjack Basketball team battled for 45 minutes Sunday afternoon before ultimately falling in overtime to Miles Community College 74-61.
For the fourth consecutive game the Ladyjacks had just five available players and down the stretch depth became a major issue. The Ladyjack offense was clicking in the first quarter jumping out to an early 11-4 lead. DCB was able to keep their lead but the Pioneers began to cut into the lead thanks to their offensive rebounds. MCC outrebounded DCB 25-10 on the offensive glass in the game. After one quarter the Ladyjacks led by a score of 21-17. The shorthanded Ladyjacks had a response for everything the Pioneers threw at them in the second quarter matching them shot for shot. Doing so allowed DCB to hold on to their four-point lead as the teams head into halftime with the Ladyjacks out front 33-29.
In the third quarter things remained the same as it seemed every time MCC looked poised for a run DCB was prepared for it. Including a stretch where the Pioneers briefly took the lead. As the teams headed to their benches to prepare for the fourth quarter the Ladyjacks led 45-42. To start the fourth quarter DCB was able to stretch it to its largest since the first quarter at 53-44 with 4:30 remaining after a Sabra Peterson 3-pointer. Foul trouble and only having five players available became an issue for the Ladyjacks with 3:55 left in the quarter as Jacie Hall fouled out leaving DCB with just four players on the floor. MCC used the player advantage to chip away at the Ladyjack lead, but still held the lead. With nine seconds remaining Lexie Nelson would go one for two from the line to push the DCB lead to 58-55. On the ensuing Pioneer possession MCC would knock down a 3-pointer as time expired to force overtime. Foul trouble became a bigger issue for the Ladyjacks in the extra period as first Koylynn Gulliford would foul out with 2:52 remaining. Just a minute later Nelson would foul out leaving just Peterson and Alyssa St Pierre on the floor to finish the game. Despite their best efforts DCB was unable to stop the Pioneers offensively. Over the final three minutes of overtime MCC would outscore DCB 14-2 to win by the final score of 74-61.
Koylynn Gulliford led four DCB players in double figures with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Sabra Peterson scored 13 points and Jacie Hall and Alyssa St Pierre each had 12 points. Hall also grabbed 12 rebounds for her 16th double-double of the season. Jessica Thompkins led the Pioneers and all scorers with 22 points and 17 rebounds.
With the loss DCB falls to 6-20 overall and 0-17 in the Mon-Dak. Ladyjacks are back in action today on the road taking on Dawson Community College with game time set for 6:30(CST).