By ALAN HOSKINS
KANSAS CITY, KAN. ---- If Kansas City Kansas Community College’s game against Wentworth’s women Saturday had been a prize fight, it would have been stopped in the first round.
Just 5½ minutes into the game, the Lady Blue Devils had built a 23-2 lead on the way to a 103-32 win. Wentworth had been held to just four shots – none good – and forced into 10 turnovers, nine on a record-breaking night of steals while the Blue Devils had scored on 9 of 13 shots (69.2) percent including 3 of 4 three-pointers.
By the halfway point of the first half it was 36-6 and 12 Blue Devils had gotten into the action on a night 12 players scored and 12 had rebounds.
The win, the seventh in a row for the unbeaten and 18th Blue Devils, set up KCKCC’s biggest pre-holiday tests – the Hutchinson Classic where KCKCC will play unbeaten Hutchinson (6-0) Friday at 5:30 p.m. and Dodge City Saturday (6-3) at 1:30 p.m.
KCKCC wrote two records into the record book – the most steals (38) in a game and the most forced turnovers (47). Leading 62-18 at the half, 41 of the Blue Devil points had come off turnovers (62 for the game).
“We really played well the first 15 minutes, especially in the transition game,” said KCKCC head coach Valerie Stambersky. Reserves accounted for 49 of KCKCC’s 103 points and played a big role in limiting Wentworth to just seven field goals in 42 attempts, half the number of Blue Devil shots (39-of-84).
Cierra Gaines led the Blue Devils with 25 points on 11-of-16 shooting while Cheyenne North added 12 points and a game high eight rebounds. Cassidy Harbert had another big assist night with nine along with 11 points.
Arrica Day led the scoring off the bench with 11 points while Sierra Roberts had nine, Rashaun Casey seven and Iland Shurn and Julia Garrard six each.
