(DCC Athletics release)
GLENDIVE – The Dawson Community College basketball women won the opener, but dropped their second game at the Coach USA Classic in Gillette.
DCC beat Colorado Northwestern Community College, 76-61 while leading most of the game behind a full court zone press. The Lady Spartans climbed back in the fourth quarter using a zone press of their own while forcing turnovers in a late surge to win the last quarter 17-15. 28 turnovers overshadowed a victorious performance by Dawson, which at one point led by as many 24.
Alexius Foster led the team in scoring with 14 points and 6 assists. In her first start of the season, freshman Kitawna Little Light of Pryor, MT contributed with a solid performance of 13 points, 5 assists and 2 steals. Sarah Miranda added 12 points, 8 rebounds and 5 steals. Ejanae Coopwood chipped in with 10 points of her own along with 6 rebounds. Columbus, MT native Maddison Carman had 8 points and 4 steals.
Dawson scored 32 points in the paint along with 22 points from turnovers and 14 second chance points. The 28 turnovers however overshadowed their victory as the Lady Spartans closed the scoring gap from 24 points to 11 in the last quarter.
In their second game, The Lady Bucs came out strong in the 1st quarter leading the Lady Pronghorns of Gillette College 22-16, but Gillette had to have a run of their own, commanding the 2nd quarter 23-17. Both teams would go into the locker room tied at 39 apiece. Gillette would continue outscoring DCC in the second half and win the ball game 81-66.
Defensive ball pressure and one on one guard play offensively by Gillette would hurt Dawson for the most part of the second half of the game, which the Lady Bucs could not get over. Kitawna Little Light would lead the team in scoring with 18 points, but had a game high 6 turnovers. Alexius Foster scored 17 points and also had a team high 4 turnovers. Maddison Carman had 11 points along with 4 turnovers as well. Dawson did however outrebound Gillette 44-39, which no team this season has done so far.
A confused Dawson head women’s basketball coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. stated, “Our team is having identity issues. There are games we look like we got it under control, and then it’s another game looking like we’re completely lost. We do have our fight in us, which is always a great thing. With it being early in the season, and still learning what it’s like to play together for the first time, there’s a lot of upside to us hopefully by the time conference play begins.”
