Lady Roadrunners split at McDonald's Classic

The 18th ranked Lady Roadrunners basketball team started their 2016-2017 season with a 104-49 victory over John Wood Community College from Quincy, Illinois, Nov. 4 in the Fred E. Davis Center on the Sedalia campus. SFCC led 27-10 at the end of the first quarter and never relinquished the advantage. 

"To open the lead at the end of the first quarter was key for us," said Lady Roadrunners Head Basketball Coach Kevin Bucher. "We were able to get into their depth and set the tempo we wanted. We just kept the pressure coming." 

Twelve of 13 Lady Roadrunners who played in the game scored. Freshman guard Takayla Gunter led in scoring with 20 points on seven of 10 attempts from the field. Freshman guard Maya Brewer added 18 points, and sophomore guard Alexis Cowan added 14. Sophomore center Kendra Boone pitched in 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman guard Amani Williams added 11 and also dished out a team-high four assists. Freshman guard Ren'Cia Rolling recorded a team-high three steals. 

"Takayla does exactly what she did in this game in practice every day," said Bucher. "She works very hard, as do most of our players. We do running and conditioning in practice so we can continue to hit three-point shots and run the floor the entire game; that is how we are going to play." 

On the second night of the McDonald's Classic, the Lady Roadrunners took on the seventh-ranked NJCAA Division II Kirkwood Community College Lady Eagles from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. SFCC (1-1) lost 74-61. 

After the first quarter, Kirkwood was on top 25-13, and by halftime the Lady Eagles led the Lady Roadrunners 44-26. 

"I give credit to Kirkwood," said Assistant Basketball Coach Rich Biddulph. "They ran their offenses and defenses well. We made some errors in getting back on defense, and we couldn't get into a flow offensively." 

SFCC attempted a comeback after trailing by as many as 23 points in the third quarter. A three-point basket from  Gunter trimmed the Kirkwood advantage 58-48 with about five and a half minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. SFCC pulled within eight points, but Kirkwood had the answers and secured the victory. 

"Kirkwood always found a way to make a play," said Biddulph. "We showed character in the second half, and I am very proud of the way we fought back. Kirkwood beat us. We're going to learn and become better because of this loss." 

Sophomore guard Danae' Cole led three Lady Roadrunners in double-figure scoring with 16 points. She also dished out a team-high five assists. Gunter contributed 11 points, and sophomore guard Alexis Cowan added 10. She also pulled down a team-high five rebounds. Freshman guard/forward Catie Kaifes led in steals with five. 

The Lady Roadrunners will travel to Fort Scott, Kansas, on Tuesday, Nov. 8, to take on Fort Scott Community College. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. 

David Rohrbach

SFCC Athletics