Comets skidding into break

Nevada Daily Mail

The Cottey College Comets ended the semester with a thud, dropping their third consecutive game, this one to St. Louis Community College-Meramec, 54-44.

Road games right before finals are always tough, but playing last year's Region 16 champs on their home court two days before finals proved to be even tougher for the Comets. With Lacy Leonard, Cottey's All-American on the bench after injuring her ankle in the first three minutes, and 3-point threat Kerri Shanks still out with a foot sprain, it was impressive that the Comets kept the game within reach at all.

"I had 40 points sitting on the bench next to me," said head coach Dave Ketterman of the injured players.

The Comets did make a game of it, particularly in the first half as they only trailed by four at the break (24-20). Freshman Liz Wagoner played her best half of the season as she connected for 10 of Cottey's 20 points before the break. No other Cottey player had more than four points at halftime.

Cottey did a better job of spreading the ball around in the second half, getting balanced scoring from six players. Unfortunately, those six players averaged only four points each for the final 20 minutes.

Turnovers and poor free-throw shooting were a nemesis for the Comets as they had 28 miscues and only went 11-of-24 from the line.

Wagoner led Cottey with 14 points and 10 rebounds, getting her first double-double as a collegian. Sara Sellin added 10 points and Dominica Sena came off the bench to score eight for the Comets.

Cottey fell to 5-3 this season and does not have another game until Jan. 5, when they travel to Trenton to take on the North Central Missouri College Lady Pirates.