INDEPENDENCE — Allen Community College’s women picked up a vital win Wednesday, boosting their hopes of hosting a Region VI playoff game at the end of the season.
The Red Devils took control midway through the second half against host Independence, turning a 28-25 deficit to a 35-28 lead. Allen led by as many as nine points down the stretch in a 47-42 win.
The victory lifts Allen to 12-11 overall and 5-6 in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division action. More importantly, it keeps the Red Devils in a third-place tie in NGJCC Region VI Eastern Division standings.
Red Devil coach Mark James called the victory one of Allen’s guttiest of the season.
“This game was one at the defensive end for us,” James said. “We really rolled up our sleeves and got after it.”
Independence led 28-25 with just over 10 minutes left in the second half when Leslie Ware scored five straight points to give Allen a 30-28 lead. DaNara Day followed with two free throws before Ebonie Jones capped the 10-point run with a 3-pointer — her fifth of the night.
The Red Devils pushed their lead to 41-32 late in regulation, then hit enough free throws to extinguish a potential Lady Pirate comeback.
“I am so proud of the effort our girls gave for the entire 40 minutes,” James said. “It wasn’t always the most pretty thing to watch offensively, but one thing we preach is to never let our offense dictate our defense. Tonight, we did a great job of not allowing that to happen.”
Jones led the way with 15 points on 5 of 7 in 3-point shooting, while Ware contributed nine points and nine rebounds. Miracle Davis had eight points and 11 boards. Day also scored eight.
“Ebonie stepped up big time” with her shooting, James said. “But even moreso than that, she did a tremendous job of hounding the two best shooters for Independence all night long.”
Both teams struggled from the free throw line. Allen hit 12 of 20 from the stripe; Independence 9 of 21.
Sabrina Berry scored 15 to pace Independence.
Curiously, Allen shot twice as well from 3-point range (39 percent or 7 for 18) than it did from 2-point range (19 percent, or 7 for 36).
“We really did an outstanding job of disrupting what Indy wanted to do,” James said. “But as much as this win is one we would like to take some time to enjoy — myself probably moreso than most — it won’t mean nearly as much unless we take care of business at home vs. Fort Scott.
The Red Devils will host the Greyhounds at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Allen (23-24—47)
Independence (22-20—42)
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Jones 0/5-0-1-15, Davis 2-4-5-8, Day 0/1-5-2-8, Redmond 0-0-2-0, Peel 0-0-2-0, Taiclet 0-0-1-0, Ware 2/1-2-2-9, Blackwell 1-1-2-3, Hall 2-0-0-4. TOTALS: 7/7-12-19-37.
Independence TOTALS: 15/1-9-17-42.
Red Devil women thump Indy
