Another tough road test stood in the way of #3 Highland women's basketball team on Saturday as they faced off with #9 Kansas City Kansas Community College and for the second time this week the Scotties tasted defeat suffering a tough 78-72 loss.

The loss moves the Scotties to 18-3 on the season and 2-2 in KJCCC action with six more games left in the regular season.

Highland took the early lead with the first few buckets but then found themselves down 11-4 before mounting a 10-0 run to lead 14-11 in the first quarter. However KCK ultimately would use 4-5 performance from three in the first quarter to own a 21-19 advantage after one quarter. KCK then opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run but the Scotties matched that with a 9-0 run and swung the lead their way briefly. The Blue Devils finished the first half strong and extend their lead to 38-30 by halftime.

The deficit for Highland grew to double figures for the first time at the 7:30 mark of the third quarter when KCK led 45-34 and would continue to push the lead out leading 60-46 after three quarters. Highland didn't go away as the Scotties put forth a 28-16 fourth quarter and cut the lead to single digits in the final two minutes of the game but were able to complete the comeback falling 78-72.

Highland in the loss managed to shoot 40.9% from the floor and force 23 KCK turnovers, while only turning it over 12 times themselves, but were out rebounded 33-17 and KCK shot 17 more free throws than the Scotties and ultimately shot 50% from the floor.

Stefania Chiziane led a quartet of double figure scorers for Highland tallying 21 points on 9-18 shooting adding five rebounds, while Janiya Davis had her eighth straight and 18^th performance this season of double figures finishing with 15 points and added four rebounds and four steals. Armani Turner chipped in 12 points and a career high five assists, while Tuana Dinc tallied 11 points and six rebounds.

UP NEXT
The season rolls on the road next Wednesday, February 6^th at Fort Scott as the Scotties finish up their first go around through the KJCCC Division II teams. The team is set for a 5:30pm tip. Highland will have their next home contest on Saturday, February 9^th versus #1 Johnson County.