(Dawson CC release)
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The Dawson Community College Lady Buccaneers basketball traveled a far distance to Twin Falls, ID for the Thanksgiving break to compete in the College of Southern Idaho classic. On Friday, November 23rd they would tip off against the host school CSI, losing to the #14 nationally ranked team 84-67.
DCC competed hard in the 1st quarter losing 16-22, but the Lady Eagles finished the half strong outscoring the Lady Bucs 26-11 in the 2nd quarter. Dawson would go on a run of their own and win the 3rd quarter 24-19. The last quarter was fought tough between both teams with Dawson getting no closer than 13 points, and CSI would claim the victory.
Both teams shared equally close stats in team turnovers, steals and blocks. The Lady Eagles however had a one sided advantage over Dawson with 19 team assists to 8 and outrebounding DCC 46-29. Both teams shot well from the field with Dawson shooting 40% and Southern Idaho 49%. Dawson shot 45% from the three-point line, and Southern Idaho 40%. CSI had a better free throw shooting percentage with 80% and DCC 64%. The Lady Eagles were also fortunate to have outscored the Lady Bucs 26-5 from the bench.
Alexius Foster led the game with 26 points (6-12 from the arc) while collecting 4 rebounds and 2 steals, but had 6 turnovers. Ejanae Coopwood had 14 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 2 assists and 2 blocks. Kitawna Little Light scored 10 points along with 2 steals. Sarah Miranda contributed with 9 points and a team high 6 rebounds.
In their last night in Idaho, Dawson would beat Treasure Valley Community College of Oregon in close-knit game 97-90. Head coach Romeo Lagmay, Jr. would adjust his starting lineup adding Chynna Torrence and Centoria Roberts to have more depth from the bench. Lagmay said, “We’re really trying to get some major bench production. Yesterday’s game could have been a much different outcome if our bench could produce more scoring. So as a staff, we have to try and approach certain games with a different lineup to have a more balanced attack.” The alignment seemed to work with the bench scoring 35 points to Treasure Valley’s 20.
Treasure Valley CC would only win the opening quarter, while Dawson CC would claim the 2nd and 4th, and both teams tied in the 3rd.
TVCC would have 24 turnovers with Dawson causing the havoc with full court pressure trap defense, having 13 steals of their own. Both teams shot well from the field, but it was the Lady Bucs who would produce more scoring power in the end.
The Lady Bucs shot 50% from the field and three-point line. Freshman Sarah Miranda had 4 of DCC’s 8 blocks. Miranda would finish the game with 22 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Dawson would outrebound Treasure Valley 43-36. Ejanae Coopwood would come off the bench also scoring 22 points along with 6 rebounds, 4 steals and 2 blocks. Coopwood, who has been struggling from the foul line, shot 4-4. Alexius Foster was also perfect in her free throw shooting making 8-8. Foster scored 21 points, with 9 of those from beyond the arc, and collected 4 rebounds. Chynna Torrence had a team high 11 rebounds and contributed with 6 points. Recovering from a season opening injury, former starting freshman guard Tasia Moore was able to chip in 9 points and grab 3 rebounds off the bench.
Lagmay was proud of his team’s fight in victory, “We’re still young and learning, but tonight’s game showed some maturity as the team held their composure down the stretch. We made some awful decisions throughout the game, but we never let up in our attack. What I’ve seen in some of our previous matchups were our Lady Bucs battling to the end when the tough gets going. I told the team that to have fight in you is what will take us far once we start conference play, all the while learning the game more in non-conference.”
