EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
The Lady Redskins were able to avenge earlier season losses to Woodward,Okla., Friday in The Big House while the Redskins continued to develop younger players in a loss to the Boomers.
Two of the five losses for the Lady Redskins came at the hand of Woodward, a one point loss Dec. 14, and a 68-58 loss Jan. 7, both in Woodward.
Liberal hosted Woodward Friday and came away with a 65-55 win.
The Lady Redskins took an early 4-0 lead, but the Lady Boomers battled back to a 5-5 tie.
The Lady Redskins pushed out to a 15-9 lead at the end of the first quarter before the Lady Boomers battled back again to take a 20-19 lead. Woodward built a 24-20 lead, and at halftime Liberal trailed 28-27.
The two teams battled early in the second half, and two clutch threes kept Woodward close and led to a 404-0 tie with 2:30 to play in the third quarter.
But the Lady Redskins ended the period on an 11-2 run to take a 51-42 lead.
Woodward drained two more threes in the fourth quarter and cut the lead to 57-52 with 4:07 to play before Kylie Rhine drained a three, and the Lady Redskins made three of six free throws down the stretch to secure the 65-55 win.
Shamari Lewis led Liberal with 19 points, Kylie Rhine had 15, Maliyah Mullens scored 13, and Kamilah Delgado had 11.
“We started off okay, but we missed a ton of lay-ups and got sloppy with the ball,” Liberal coach Brandi Fowler said. “We allowed them to make too many free throws. We knew they wanted to get downhill and get us in foul trouble and get to the free throw line, and they are really good at it. We had to make them take tough shots. We did a better job of that in the second half.”
Woodward used six three pointers to keep the game close but only attempted four second-half free throws after the Lady Redskins stopped fouling.
“Woodward doesn’t go away, no matter what lead you have,” Fowler said.
The youth movement continued for the Redskins in an 83-52 loss to Woodward.
The Boomers ran out early and took a 27-14 lead after the first quarter.
Liberal trailed 50-23 at half and 74-42 after the third quarter.
The game finished with a running clock in the 83-52 loss.
James Fieser led Liberal with 18 points. Juan Diego added 11.
Liberal hosts Hooker, Okla., tonight.