They won four in a row, but now they’ve conceded four consecutive losses.
4-4 is where the Cowgirls currently sit, after their loss to conference competitor Algona Bulldogs, who hosted the classic matchup. Scoring and conceding similar scores as the previous three matchups, the Cowgirls’ season is now leveled with four wins and four losses.
As the first quarter began, the Cowgirls weren’t that far behind the Bulldogs as they put away eight points to kick off the game. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, put away 12 with a four point lead to close the first. “Algona started out on fire, hitting their first 3 shots- all 3 pointers. We answered with some 2 point baskets and put on some full court pressure, forcing a few turnovers. We hung right with the Bulldogs up to the end of the half,” Coach Liz Ennis explains. Heading to the second quarter, and down four points, one can only imagine the determination and eagerness from the Cowgirls as they had no intentions of going down four games after standing the complete opposite position. The second quarter saw similar occurrences from the first. The Cowgirls scored nine points in the second while the Bulldogs added 11. The first half ended with a six point lead for the Bulldogs, though there was still plenty of time remaining for a Cowgirl comeback. “We talked at the half about offensive spacing and being confident in scoring. Also, we pointed out the fact that we were forcing turnovers and getting rebounds but needed to take advantage of it on the offensive end of the floor by taking better care of the ball,” Ennis described how the conversation went during half-time with the Cowgirls.
By the third quarter, it seemed as if the Cowgirls were chasing after the lead, hoping to attain it at some point. The lead, however, belonged to the Bulldogs that night. The third quarter concluded with a 38-24 lead for the Bulldogs, as the Cowgirls entered the fourth quarter 14 points away from the lead. As the fourth quarter progressed, nothing changed from the game overall. The Bulldogs scored 12 while the Cowgirls scored seven. The game ended 50-31 with the Bulldogs on top. Though no comeback was made, and no fifth win was conquered, the Cowgirls still have a long season ahead to make corrections and improve for their upcoming matches. Currently, they are tied for fourth with Algona and Iowa Falls-Alden in the North Central conference standings. FR Elliot Ennis delivered the most points for the Cowgirls, 11, with three blocks and six rebounds. JR Lexie Lane scored eight Tuesday night, along with five rebounds. JR Kennedy Trca scored five for the Cowgirls, as she added six rebounds and a steal. SO Sawyer Morrical, SR Summer Traub, and SR Olyvia Olson contributed two points for the Cowgirls, with a point from SR Kaylie Dow. No points were scored by SR Delia Swanson, though she showed up with six rebounds and a block, as well as SR Nikki Kapka, who assisted once, rebounded twice, and stole three times.
Ennis acknowledged the tough streak of four losses, but she responded to that statistic saying, “We’ve got an opportunity to work over break and get better, and I look forward to seeing who will rise to the occasion. We just have to keep working on the little things.”
Hoping to secure a fifth win rather than a fifth consecutive loss, the Cowgirls are set to host Hampton-Dumond-CAL on Friday, January 7, with tip-off set for 6:15 PM.
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