IOLA, Kan. - After picking up the pace the last two games, the Independence Lady Pirates looked to keep the tempo going on the road against the Allen County Red Devils. The Lady Pirates once again erupted from the start and never looked back, cruising to victory 86-54.
The Lady Pirates had five players score in double figures led by Victoria Mikkelsen with 16 points, Brittany Reeves with 13 points, 12 points each for Jessica Goodluck and Sadie Jordan and Mychaell Gray with 10 points.
"We definitely would like for this trend of big nights and victories to continue," coach Leslie Crane said. "We had a lot of good individual performances tonight with a great team performance as everyone scored and that's huge, so we have to continue to have nights like this."
"We outrebounded them tonight 58-32 and kept our turnovers under 15, which is great while forcing 12 turnovers ourselves, but the big stat was that we shot 76 percent from the free throw line for an outstanding night."
In the first quarter, a three-pointer from Ariel Walker got thing started for the Red Devils and grew to five after a jumper by Tunmi Amusa. A three-point play by Brittany Reeves got the Lady Pirates within two and a bucket by Fatarah Kinnard tied the game at 5-5 at the 7:20 mark.
Independence took the lead after a bucket from Kierra Crockett and a shot by Mychaell Gray pushed the lead to four before a basket by Sadie Jordan. A layup by Walker cut the lead back to four, but Crockett pushed it back to six before a three from Walker at the 1:20 mark.
A run of 3-2 capped with another three-pointer from Walker made the score 15-13, but a hook shot from Reeves pushed the lead back to four before free throws from Alicia Verge made the score 17-15 Lady Pirates after the opening period.
The second quarter began with a basket by Reeves pushing the lead back to four before a foul sent her to the line where she made a pair of free throws. A floater by Walker had the lead down to four but a basket from Victoria Mikkelsen made the score 23-17 with 8:00 remaining in the half.
A layup by Mikkelsen answered an Allen County basket, but after a bucket from Reeves the Lady Pirates led by eight points. A three from Jessica Goodluck pushed the lead out to eleven, but a pair of free throws by Jakira Wilson had the score at 30-21 Independence with 3:28 left in the half.
Free throws by Zaiyah Frazier brought the lead back to eleven before a three by Gabby Guzman, but another basket by Mikkelsen pushed it back to ten. A floater by Amusa pushed the lead down t eight before a bucket from Logan Collyer, but Guzman delivered again making it a 36-28 Independence lead with 1:11 left in the half. A basket by Goodluck pushed the lead to ten and the Lady Pirates led 38-28 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, a layup by Goodluck got things started for the Lady Pirates, but a three by Trinity Tillis kept Allen in it before a layup from Mikkelsen. A lot of quick scoring from both teams occurred, but after another basket from Mikkelsen the score was 50-34 Independence at the 5:36 mark.
Free throws by Collyer pushed the lead to eighteen points before a three-point play from Jordan who banked it in again before a score from Wilson. Guzman torched the net again from the outside, but a free throw from Jordan made the score 58-39 at the 3:00 mark.
A three-pointer from Gray answered an Allen free throw before another score from Jordan, but a three by Walker kept the Red Devils scoring. Independence ended the period on a 5-2 run and led 68-45 heading into the final minutes of the night.
The fourth quarter began with a trip to the line for Mikkelsen, who made both shots before a three-pointer by Collyer and a bank shot from Gray to put the Lady Pirates up by 30 points. A jumper by Macie Price pushed the lead out to thirty-two before a layup by Crockett, but a three from Paige Jensen made the score 79-48 Independence with 4:15 remaining. The game ended on a 7-6 run for Independence and the Lady Pirates were victorious in dominant fashion in a 32-point victory.
Independence (11-9, 6-7) returns home Saturday February 2 hosting the Cowley County Tigers with tipoff set for 4 pm.