EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
The Lady Saints battled back from deficits several times Tuesday against the Coffeyville Lady Red Ravens, but a slump early in the fourth quarter was too much to overcome in a 55-45 loss.
After trailing 17-8 after the first quarter, the Lady Saints battled back to cut the Coffeyville lead to just one, 27-26 at half.
Avery Marchino hit a three pointer early in the third quarter to give the Lady Saints a 29-27 lead, and that started a competitive quarter that had three ties and five lead changes, and by the end of the period the game was tied 38-38.
The defenses forced several turnovers and poor shot opportunities, but the Lady Ravens were able to put together an 8-0 run in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to take a 46-38 lead.
The Lady Saint drought was finally broken with 5:37 to play with a three form Marchino to cut the Coffeyville lead to five, and with 3:26 to lay another Marchino bucket cut the lead to three, 48-45.
But the Lady Saints wouldn’t score the rest of the way while the Lady Ravens were able to knock down a pair of shots and hit free throws in the final two minutes to hand the Lady Saints a 55-45 loss.
Marchino led the Lady Saints with 18 points. Fagan Mimora had 10, and Destiny Alexander had eight.
Statistically the game was a virtual draw. Coffeyville outshot Seward 40.4 percent to 37.3 percent, and both teams connected on five three pointers.
Coffeyville had an advantage at the free throw lie, knocking down eight of 11 to only two of two for the Lady Saints, but most of those came late when the Lady Saints were forced to foul.
Seward forced 20 turnovers but committed 21 of its own.
The Lady Saints (7-2, 2-1) traveled to Hutchinson for a Saturday match-up with the Lady Blue Dragons (7-2, 2-1).
