4th Quarter Struggles Dooms Lopes

In a game that featured a multitude of ties and lead changes, it was the last one that got the Lamar Community College Runnin's Lopes women's basketball team on Wednesday evening. Holding a 50-48 lead with 7:00 to go the Lopes would proceed to go scoreless over the next 5:00 before an Althea Angeles free-throws broke the streak in falling 60-56 to McCook Community College.

"I didn't feel like it was anything that  McCook did that was hurting us in the fourth, our shooting went cold even though we got some good looks and we had some untimely unforced turnovers." Coach Brandon Colvin had to say.

Both teams came out in the first and struggled to find their footing, as MCC lead 14-12 after the first. The second saw the game seesaw back and forth with neither team gaining a definite advantage. With the game tied at 27, MCC would hit a three at the buzzer on a drive and kick to gain the 30-27 advantage at the break.

LCC would hit the first three of the second half on the first possession, courtesy of Angeles to tie the game, however the Indians came right back on their first possession to retake the lead. The two teams would battle for most the third quarter, before a quick run by the Lopes would give them an 18-10 advantage for the quarter and a 45-40 lead heading into the fourth.

In the fourth the Indians would cut the lead to 50-48 at seven minutes and then the Lope offense would go cold. Despite the issues on offense the Lopes still had two chances either down two or three to tie or take the lead the last 2:00, before falling by the four point margin.

For the Lopes, Angeles led the way with 23 points and five rebounds. The only other double digit scorer was Tayler Dossey with 10, including 4-5 from the line. Angie Lopez led the way on the boards with six. For the Indians, Amiya Dartest scored 13, 10 in the first half while Estrella Avalos added 12, hurting the Lopes from the mid-range.

"I thought despite all the adversity we went thru this week, the team did a good job rallying and giving themselves a chance to win. Missing a key player and coaches can be a hard situation, but they fought thru, as Coach Clark and Coach Williams did an excellent job leading the team" Coach Colvin had to add regarding the game, and the men's team coaches that led the way.

The Lopes fall to 3-6 on the year, while the Indians improved to 5-3. Lamar is next in action in a week when they go back to Nebraska, this time to face North Platte at 5:00 pm CST on February 24.