News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOvember 16, 2009

COMETS GET FIRST WIN, REVENGE

The Cottey College Comets got their first win of the season, and a bit of revenge, as they beat Ft. Scott Community College 52-45 in the opening game of the Allen County Classic on Friday evening. The host Allen County Community College defeated the Comets on Saturday, however, 48-76.

On Friday though, it was revenge for the Comets who fell in their home opener to the Greyhounds of Ft. Scott. In the opening minutes, however, it looked like Friday was going to be a repeat of the previous meeting as Ft. Scott opened up a ten-point lead at 21-11 with just under eight minutes to play in the first half.

Credit Cottey's trapping defense with part of the comeback, but just as important was the Comets' Bailey Beale heating up from three-point range. Beale hit three during an 11-0 run that put the Comets in the lead at 24-23 with 22 seconds to play. The Greyhounds hit a basket to give them a one-point lead as the teams went into the break.

Cottey came out in the second half with the same momentum, scoring the first nine points out of the gate to build a solid lead at 33-25. The Greyhounds scored two baskets, and then Amanda Sanders warmed up scoring seven consecutive points to give the Comets a 40-29 lead with less than 10 minutes to play. Ft. Scott made a bit of a run, but the lead was enough as Cottey held on down the stretch to notch its first win of the season.

Beale was the leading scorer for the Comets with 18 points, all from three-point range. Sanders was also in double figures with 14 points of her own, and Alex Noble led the team with eight rebounds.

It was a different Cottey team that took the floor on Saturday afternoon, particularly in the second half, against the Allen County Red Devils. The first half was fairly competitive as the Comets were up by a point at the break, 24-23. In the second half, Cottey's shooting percentage dropped from 42 percent to 32 percent, while the Red Devils went from 38 percent to 49 percent.

It wasn't just the shooting touch that left the Comets. They had ball handling troubles and turned the ball over 26 times in the game and were outrebounded 42-29.

Natascha Lord and Noble tied for the team lead in scoring with 11 points each, and Tessa Porter added six rebounds and four steals in the losing effort.

The weekend split raised the Comets' record to 1-4 on the season. Next up is the Cottey College Classic on Friday and Saturday, November 20 and 21, in the friendly confines of Hinkhouse Gymnasium. The Comets face Rhema Bible College on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. and Redlands Community College on Saturday at 3 p.m. On Monday, November 23, the Comets will face LSU-Eunice in a home game tipping off at 7 p.m.