Dec. 6 Crowder College at Poplar Bluff, Missouri
The State Fair Community College (SFCC) Lady Roadrunners opened their portion of the Region 16 Showdown in Poplar Bluff Friday, Dec. 6 with a 92-62 loss to the Crowder College Lady Riders from Neosho, Missouri.
Crowder led the game at the end of the first quarter 24-13. They forced 28 SFCC turnovers to help secure the victory.
"It just looked like we were just getting off of the bus," said Lady Roadrunners Head Coach Kevin Bucher. "We just didn't come out very well and our defense wasn't very good. It was a lopsided win for Crowder. They put it to us."
Sophomore guard/forward Nadia Thorman-McKey of Evanston, Illinois led SFCC in scoring with 20 points and finished her double-double with 11 rebounds. Freshman guard/forward Darlisha Reed of Gary, Indiana also recorded a double-double with 12 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard/forward Connor Watkins of Charleston, Missouri added 10 points and a team-high two blocked shots. Freshman guard Ryann Haynes of St. Louis, Missouri dished out a team-high six assists and tied for the team-high in steals with freshman guard Aleah Bell of Margate, Florida and Thorman-McKey with two.
Dec. 7 Mineral Area College at Poplar Bluff, Missouri
SFCC lost to the Mineral Area College Lady Cardinals from Park Hills, Missouri 83-57 in the second round of the Region 16 Showdown on Saturday, Dec. 7 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
Mineral Area took a 16 point lead into halftime and outscored SFCC by 10 points in the third quarter to emerge victorious.
"That game stayed close until about the third quarter," said Bucher. "Mineral Area is an experienced team that plays well together. It is difficult when the same players are playing a lot of minutes in back-to-back games.
Thorman-McKey registered yet another double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She also tied for the team lead in steals with two along with freshman guard Laila McNeal of Chicago, Illinois. Reed scored 17 points and 10 rebounds. Bell chipped in with 13 points. Haynes dished out a team-high four assists in the game.
Dec. 8 Three Rivers Community College at Poplar Bluff, Missouri
SFCC (5-11) closed the Region 16 Showdown with a 101-75 loss to the Three Rivers Lady Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 8 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Three Rivers led 34-14 at the end of first quarter.
"Three Rivers pressed us the whole game," said Bucher. "I was very pleased with how we handled the press. Three Rivers is a big team, so we tried to play some zone. They made quite a few three-point shots. It wasn't their size that hurt us, it was their guards."
Reed led four Lady Roadrunners in double figures with 18 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Thorman-McKey contributed 16 points. Haynes added 15 points and tied for the team lead in steals with two. Freshman guard Kaiya Braggs of Ruston, Louisiana pitched in with 10 points. Bell dished out a team-high seven assists and tied for team lead in steals with two.
David Rohrbach
SFCC Athletics