Mark James noted Allen Community College’s women didn’t have to play a perfect game to upend undefeated and fourth-ranked Highland Community College Saturday.
“But we needed to play better than we did,” James said.
The Red Devils were plagued with spotty free throw shooting and foul trouble throughout their contest against the 13-0 Highland squad.
Allen was within a single point of the visiting Scotties early in the second half, but went cold from the field after starting point guard Miracle Davis fouled out with nearly 10 minutes left in the game. By the time leading scorer DaNara Day picked up her fifth foul with 2:44 left in the game, Highland’s lead was in double digits in what became a 69-54 victory.
The loss drops Allen to 0-1 in Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division play and 7-6 overall.
“We were prepared for them,” James said. “My hat’s off to Highland. They executed better than we did, but I think we’re every bit as good as they are.”
Highland zipped out to a quick 9-0 lead, forcing James to call time out twice within the game’s first five minutes.
The Red Devils found their footing and responded with some frenetic defense to stymie Highland’s offense. Allen’s Kendra Taiclet drained a rare four-point play with 7:26 left in the half to give the Red Devils a 17-14 lead. Allen’s lead was 19-17 when Highland scored six straight points to retake the lead for good.
Allen struggled from the line, going 2 of 11 in the first half and missing 13 of 30 for the game.
Highland’s Tamiya Green scored with five seconds left before intermission to give the Scotties a 33-26 lead at the break.
Day and Redmond drained early 3-pointers to start the second half for Allen, and Day’s layup with 16 minutes left in the contest cut the Scotties’ lead to 35-34. But Green scored on a putback to trigger an 8-0 run over the next four minutes to lead 43-34.
Allen never got closer than five points of Highland after that.
“They are ranked number four in the country for a reason,” James said. “They did a great job of disrupting us offensively and capitalizing on our mistakes. I was extremely pleased with our effort and that we battled for the entire 40 minutes.”
Day led the Red Devils with 11 points and three steals, while Redmond had eight points and Davis, Taiclet and Hannah Blackwell scored seven apiece. Davis also had five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Kayla Morton and Blackwell also had five boards. Leslie Ware registered a pair of steals.
Green led Highland with 14 points, followed by Royce Shields with 13 and Jaaron Kassanavoid with 12.
Foul trouble was a common thread for both squads. Allen had four players with four fouls by game’s end, as did Highland. The teams where whistled for a combined 46 fouls in the contest.
Allen was without the services of Ebonie Jones, who missed the game due a death in her family during the holiday break.
“We’re not making excuses, but we missed her speed and hustle out there,” James said.
Allen returns home Wednesday to host Independence.
Highland (33-36—69)
Allen (26-28—54)
Highland (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Torres 1-2-4-4, Shields 5/1-0-4-13, Rn. Bowser 1/1-3-4-8, Kassanavoid 3-6-2-12, Jackson 3-2-1-8, Corhn 1-0-5-2, Rl. Bowser 2/1-1-2-8, Green 6-2-2-14. TOTALS: 22/3-16-24-69.
Allen (FG/3pt-FT-F-TP): Davis 3-1-5-7, Morton 2-0-4-4, Day 2/1-4-5-11, Redmond 1/2-0-1-8, Peel 1-4-1-6, Taiclet 0/2-1-0-7, Ware 0/1-0-1-3, Blackwell 1/1-2-1-7, Molisee 0-1-4-1. TOTALS: 10/7-13-22-54.
Highland fends off Red Devil women
