Buzzer-beater gives Lady Trojans first conference win in a year

A Brooke Bixenman put-back as time expired gave the Colby Community College Lady Trojans a 56-54 win over the Dodge City Conquistadors Saturday night at the Colby Community Building. The win ends a 22-game Jayhawk Conference losing streak for Colby that began after they beat Independence 59-48 on November 22, 2016.

Saturday's triumph also marks the first win for Shareka Maner, now CCC interim head coach after the sudden departure of Chris Marks on Nov. 7.

"This was a great win for us!" said Maner. "The ladies fought hard throughout the game and we were able to get our first conference win in front of our home crowd."

Colby trailed by 10 at the end of the first quarter but trimmed Dodge City's lead to 31-25 by halftime. After Dodge rebuilt the lead to 11 early in the third, a three pointer by Meona Leonard and two more from Meagan Woodward began a 25-7 run that put the Lady Trojans up 49-43 at the end of the quarter.

Dodge made a 10-0 run of their own to start the fourth with the help of six straight from Kyra Trice. Though the Lady Trojans were outscored 12-7 in the quarter, they had possession with 21 seconds remaining and the game knotted at 54. Jordan Dixon's close-range shot from the right side missed but Bixenman collected the weak side rebound and put in the game winner.

The Conquistadors were led by 11 points from Addison Rowley and 10 from Trice.

The Lady Trojans improve their conference record to 1-4 and 3-6 overall. They travel to Hutchinson Wednesday for a 6 p.m. tip against the Blue Dragons (3-2, 5-2).