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Southwestern Community College let one slip away Wednesday night, falling to Southeastern Community College 79-67.
SWCC falls to 8-13 (3-5) after dominating Little Priest Tribal College Monday night while SECC picks up its fourth conference win and moved to 12-9 on the season.
The Spartan women will have another chance against SECC on the road Saturday, Feb. 8.
Coming into the game, the Spartans and Blackhawks matched up well, each averaging around 65 points per game and posting three conference wins. SWCC head coach Bryan Austin felt it was a game the Spartans had an opportunity to win.
“I felt pretty confident,” said Austin. “If we execute our gameplan and what we need to do, then we can come out on top. When we don’t execute our gameplan and don’t do the little things, we can’t come out on top.”
SWCC’s defense played well in the first quarter, playing stingy defense down low and forcing deep 3-pointers. The Blackhawks went 2-7 from deep in the first.
The Spartans spent most of the game in charge until second-half struggles took over.
Austin said execution and defense was the problem for the Spartans, especially in the second half.
“Defensively we didn’t execute what we were trying to do, and offensively we just turned it over at times. We didn’t need to turn it over when we needed a bucket,” said Austin. “Those two things are a combination for a loss.”
After starting the third quarter on an 8-0 run, the Spartans took a 23-15 lead. SECC started to knock down some shots midway through the second, cutting the lead to 29-21.
With the lead cut to eight points, the Blackhawks knocked down four consecutive 3-pointers and a final two-point field goal to cut the lead to 37-34 at halftime.
“[We] just didn’t defend well and (didn’t) execute,” said Austin. “That’s what it’s going to come down to, bottom line.”
During the third quarter, the Spartans’ defense started to break down, allowing SECC’s Shaniya Caldwell to cut to the rim often. She scored eight of her 31 points in the third. Offensively, the Spartans turned the ball over frequently and rushed shots, resulting in poor offensive possessions.
SWCC turned the ball over six times in the third quarter, finishing with 16 total.
Austin looked for a group that could execute on both ends of the floor, rotating all five players on the floor three separate times in the fourth quarter.
The Spartans allowed seven points from free throws in the first three minutes during the Blackhawks 9-5 run to begin the final frame.
The Blackhawks took advantage of empty Spartan possessions and ended the game on a 13-2 run.
“Just didn’t defend well and execute,” said Austin. “When you do those two things, you can win. When you don’t defend and don’t execute your gameplan and follow the plan, that’s what you get. We see them in a week and a half. Hopefully, we can defend well and execute.”
The bulk of the Blackhawks’ offense came from Caldwell and Emma Knipe. Caldwell and Knipe knocked down 10 field goals each. Knipe finished with 22 points.
For the Spartans, Simone Jordan put up 25 points. Brielle Baker scored 14 and Meghan Allen scored 11 points in 13 minutes.
UP NEXT – SWCC hosts Kirkwood Community College Saturday, starting at 1 p.m.
SECC 79, SWCC 67
SECC (79) — 14 20 12 33
SWCC (67) — 15 22 14 16
SOUTHEASTERN (FG FT PTS) — Totals —27 18-21 79. Shaniya Caldwell 10 9-9 31, Emma Knipe 10 1-2 22, Kianna McWhite 3 3-4 11, Destiny Trujillo 3 3-4 10, D’Shanna Schuster 1 0-0 3, Aryn Kindig 0 2-2 2. 3-point goals (7) — Caldwell 2, McWhite 2, Schuster 1, Knipe 1, Trujillo 1. Team fouls — 12. Fouled out — Caldwell.
SOUTHWESTERN (FG FT PTS) — Totals — 26 12-15 67. Simone Jordan 10 4-4 25, Brielle Baker 5 3-4 14, Meghan Allen 4 3-5 11, Samantha Hagedorn 3 2-2 9, Kayela Willis 3 0-0 6, Tucker 1 0-0 2. FG shooting — 12-15 (80%). 3-point goals (3) — Baker, Jordan, Hagedorn. Rebounds — 46 (Hagedorn 9, Baker 7, Jordan 7). Assists — 15 (Willis 6, Baker 3, Jordan 3). Steals — None. Blocked shots — 2 (Waterhouse-Brennan 2). Turnovers — 16. Team fouls — 14. Fouled out — None.