Sports Editor
Photo by Hope Gutierrez | Contributor
Ariana Gallegos, freshman #24 general studies major, attempts to score game points for the Lady ‘Riders during the 68-59 victory against Coffeyville on Nov. 26.
The Lady ‘Riders basketball team lost to Coffeyville, 68-59 on Dec. 3, placing the team 5-6 overall this season as of press time on Dec. 5.
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” said Tina Robbins, head women’s basketball coach and physical education instructor. “They jumped out to a 10-0 lead and we battled back. We didn’t rebound and we gave up 35 offensive rebounds for 30 second chance points”.
According to the overall record of 5-6 so far, the team has had their fair share of wins, as well as losses, as they opened the new season with two losses to Seminole, 72-54, and Connors State, 81-71.
The team later hosted their first home game of the season against Labette, defeating the Lady Cardinals, 91-77, in front of a large crowd of Crowder supporters.
“It’s a good feeling just knowing that you are protecting your home court,” said Ariana Gallegos, freshman #24 general studies major.
Riding with momentum after the first win of the season, the Lady ‘Riders would split their first tournament of the season in the North Arkansas Classic, playing two games in the tournament on Nov. 8-9. Even though Crowder lost a close game to Carl Albert, 74-73 on that Friday night, they would come back to defeat John Wood, 66-57, the next afternoon.
The team returned home on Nov. 11, looking for a rematch against Connors State, who previously defeated the Lady ‘Riders back in the second game of the season, 81-71 on Nov. 2. The rematch would prove success as Crowder stormed to a 112-53 victory over the Warner, Okla. based school.
“We came out focused and ready to play,” said Robbins. “We made shots and played hard and everything seemed to click that night.”
After hosting the annual Don Wilson Classic on Nov. 15-16, in which they split the tournament 1-1 after playing in two games against Cowley and Cottey, the Lady ‘Riders would lose three of the last four games in a rematch with Labette, 67-56, Butler, 84-54, and the Coffeyville game on Dec.3.
The team previously beat Coffeyville at home on Nov. 26, 74-72.
As the fall portion of the season comes to a close, Katie Hughes, freshman #15 general studies major, is looking to focus on the upcoming Region 16 games.
“We need to concentrate on later games in the season because these games matter, but they really don’t,” said Hughes. “We need to concentrate on getting ready for regions.”
“The main things that we have to do a better job of is taking better care of the basketball, decreasing our turnovers, and doing a better job on the glass,” stated Robbins. “We’re allowing way too many offensive rebounds for second chance points, and we need to improve on the defensive side of things too.”
The recent winter weather has postponed the last two scheduled games for the Lady ‘Riders. The team was scheduled to play on Dec.5 against Independence, which has now been rescheduled for Dec. 11 at 6 p.m., while the Dec. 7 game against Seminole has not been rescheduled as of Dec. 9. After the Dec. 11 game against Independence, the team will wrap up their fall portion of the season at North Arkansas on Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m.
If you are unable to attend any of the games in person, you can watch the Lady ‘Riders in action on iHigh.com.
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