Ryan Land
Editor-in-Chief
After an opening season loss to Eastern Oklahoma Community College back on Nov. 1, the Lady ‘Rider basketball team defeated Allen County Community College 61-54 on Nov. 5, to earn their first victory of the season.
“We played with a lot more intensity for 40 minutes of this game,” said Tina Robbins, head women’s basketball coach and physical education instructor. “We did a much better job of taking care of the basketball.”
Crowder scored the opening two points to the game in the first minute before an Allen County score and another score from the Lady ‘Riders gave Crowder a 4-2 lead with 17:22 left in the first half. Almost a full minute later, a two point shot by a Lady Red Devil tied the game at 4-4, before Allen County took control of the lead for a portion of the first half.
With Allen County holding a 13-12 lead with under 10 minutes left in the half, Crowder’s Tiffany Rhame, sophomore point guard, made a three-point shot, giving Crowder a 15-13 lead with 9:37 remaining on the first half clock.
After a free throw shot made by an Allen County player, Rhame would score another three-point shot to a cheering crowd, giving the Lady ‘Riders an 18-14 lead with 8:43 on the clock.
Despite the Lady Red Devils closing in on Crowder’s lead throughout the remainder of the first half, the Lady ‘Riders took a 31-29 lead into the locker room.
The second half featured Crowder leading the game by 12 points at one time, as the team sent Allen County home with their third loss of the regular season.
Thays Barbosa, sophomore post, feels the confidence starting to kick in this season after scoring the first win.
“I feel confidence because the first game, I don’t do well,” said Barbosa, a native of Goiana, Brazil. “I put my game in the game and I think now we will start to win. We need to put everything in the same way.”
For Michaela Mitchell, sophomore post, getting the first win of the season relieves a lot of pressure on the season.
“It feels really good,” said Mitchell. “It was nice to get it out of the way at home.”
The Lady ‘Riders will travel to North Arkansas College in Harrison, Ark. to take part in the North Arkansas Classic from Nov. 7-8. The team faces Missouri Baptist at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 before playing Baptist Bible College at noon on Nov. 8. The team stays on the road to play Independence Community College on Nov. 11 before returning home to host the annual Don Wilson Classic on Nov. 14-15.
According to Mitchell, improvements are going to be crucial as the team presses onward with the season.
“We have a lot of improvements we need to do,” said Mitchell. “Communication, defense, stuff like that.”
If you are unable to make it to any games, you can watch matches live on ihigh.com/crowdercollege/.
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