Lady Tigers remain unbeaten with a 65-56 win at NOC-Tonkawa

Playing its first road game of the season, the Cowley College women's basketball team rose to the challenge in a 65-56 victory over Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa Wednesday in Tonkawa, OK.

Wednesday's contest was a game of runs as Cowley began the game by scoring the first eight points before the Mavericks answered with 10 points of their own. The Lady Tigers would finish the first quarter with a 12-10 lead.

Leading 15-13 early in the second quarter, Cowley would score the next nine points to increase its lead to 24-13. After a three-pointer by the Mavericks made the score 24-16, the Lady Tigers would close the half with seven straight points to lead 31-16.

"The second quarter was big for us," Cowley head coach Todd Clark said. "We executed well and guarded them really tough in holding them to 16 points in the half."

Cowley's lead would grow to 36-20, but NOC again answered with a 10-0 run to pull within 36-30. Freshman Aiyanna Big Man stopped the run with a three-pointer, and Cowley clung to a 50-45 lead after three-quarters of play.

The Mavericks would get within 56-53 with 7:12 remaining, but Cowley would hold NOC to just three points the rest of the way in the nine-point road win.

The victory improves Cowley's record to 5-0 on the season, while NOC-Tonkawa falls to 1-2.

Big Man and freshman Jaiden Smith led Cowley in scoring with 13 points apiece, while Ndack Mbengue (11 points, 11 rebounds) and Hattie Pyle (11 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists) each posted double-doubles.

Anna Przyszlak just missed making it a third Cowley player with a double-double, finishing with eight points and 12 rebounds.

"We really rebounded well as a team," Clark said.

Allison Green and Kaydrin Scott led the Lady Mavericks with 12 points apiece.

After opening the season with five games in eight days, the Lady Tigers will have some time off before hosting Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 15.

"It will be tough to turn around and play them again, so we will need to be focused and ready to go," Clark said.