Cottey Comets knocked down by visiting Stars

NEVADA, Mo. -- The Cottey Comets had a chance to go above the .500 mark for the first time all season, but couldn't get it done as they lost to the Stephens Stars Saturday, 66-62, at the Hinkhouse Center.

Cottey led for most of the game, jumping out to a 21-8 advantage in the first half, but they couldn't keep the Stars' outside shooters grounded.

Stephens hit seven 3-pointers in the second half, including three by Venicia Vaughn as they took the lead with 5:15 left and held off the hosting Comets.

"We just stopped working," Cottey head coach Dave Ketterman said. "I don't understand, but that's what happens."

Cottey (9-10) was just a step slow defensively, as they worked in 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones to try to keep the Stars from going inside.

The strategy worked in part, as Cottey controlled the paint, but the Comets couldn't get outside in time to defend the Stephens' perimeter arsenal and it cost Cottey the game.

"We had a stretch in the second half where we continually let them have open looks," Ketterman said.

Lacy Leonard led the Comets with 19 points and 11 rebounds, her 12th double-double of the season. Leonard needs 14 rebounds in Cottey's regular season finale tonight to finish the year averaging a double-double. Currently she is averaging 22.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game.

The Comets host Ozark Christian today at 7 p.m., their final regular season game of the season.

Cottey will also host a first-round NJCAA Region 16 tournament game Saturday, likely against St. Louis Community College-Forest Park. Cottey is tied with Penn Valley with the third-best record in the region.

The region will be hosting a seeding meeting Wednesday in Columbia, where Cottey will probably be given the fourth seed, forcing them to play Forest Park, the likely fifth seed.