Lady ‘Riders looking to finish strong

Ryan Land
Sports Editor

After losing the last five games before Feb. 1, the Lady ‘Riders basketball team scored a much needed win against Jefferson College, 80-73, in Hillsboro, Mo.

At one point during the second half of the game, the Lady ‘Riders had a 17 point lead, but according to a post on the official team facebook page after the game, the team began to panic.

“We got down and they started pressuring the ball and pressuring us,” said Courtney Jones, freshman #3 general studies major. “We haven’t been in that kind of situation a lot during the season. Once we finally faced it, we kind of freaked out a little.”

The win marks the first for the team in Region 16 play for this season, as confidence was the designated driver for the success during the game.

“We just needed to get it together and play as a team,” according to Jones, who is a native of Tahlequah, Okla.

As the regular season draws to a close, Lori Kleier, freshman #22 general studies major, is remaining optimistic about the chances of the team returning to the Region 16 tournament.

“Basically our goals are to keep working hard and to come out with the win,” stated Kleier. “Even though we’ve had a rough season, we still have that chance to get back to the region championships and District K.

The Lady ‘Riders now stand at 8-16 overall, and 1-5 in Region 16 play, as they will travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa on Feb. 8 to face off against Iowa Western Community College. Game time is set for 5 p.m.

The team will return to Neosho for a three-game home series starting Feb. 12 against State Fair Community College, before Mineral Area College comes to town to entertain the Lady ‘Riders on Feb. 15 for the annual Play 4 Kay Game. The final home game of the season is set for Feb. 19 against Moberly Community College. Dorian Briggs, sophomore #5 general studies major, will be honored prior to the game during sophomore day.