GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Despite an inefficient third quarter that saw just one point scored, the No. 11 Seward County women’s basketball beat the Garden City Broncbusters 68-60. It was the first home loss for Garden City on the year.
The Lady Saints came out hot, connecting on six of their first eight shots, including all three from behind the arc as they took at 15-5 lead. A timeout by the Broncbusters sparked an 8-0 run to trim the Seward lead to just two points. Following a three-minute scoring drought, Kalen Green connected on a layup to give Seward a four-point lead. The lead was increased to seven by the end of the quarter as the Lady Saints went up 24-17.
Seward wasted no time extending their lead, quickly pushing their lead to double-digits with a Lexi Hernandez layup three minutes into the half. Hernandez extended the lead to sixteen points a few minutes later with a three pointer to give Seward a 39-23 lead. The Broncbusters went on a short run just before half, but still trailed by double-digits as Seward went into half up 44-32.
The Brocbusters came out of the half determined, opening on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to three points. The Lady Saints went ice cold in the third quarter, failing to hit a single field goal and scoring just one point, coming from a free throw. Garden City took a 46-45 lead heading into the fourth.
After a nearly 12-minute field goal drought, Hernandez made a jump shot to put Seward back on top, but it was short lasted. On the next possession Garden hit a three pointer to put the Broncbusters back on top. After Garden City went up six points, Karolina Szydlowska hit a three to start an 11-0 run for the Lady Saints, giving them a five-point lead with two minutes to play. Garden City hit a three to make it a three-point game with 40 seconds left, but another clutch three by Silvia Veloso secured the win for the Lady Saints, winning 68-60.
Seward shot 45.2 percent (28-for-62) from the floor. After starting the game three-for-three, Seward made just three of their next 20 three pointers to shoot 26.1 percent from behind the arc. Garden City shot 38.5 percent (20-for-52) from the field and 43.8 percent (7-for-16) from deep. The Lady Saints outrebounded the Broncbusters 36-27.
Three Lady Saints reached double-figures, led by Carla Covane’s 20 points. Silvia Veloso finished with 11 points and one assist shy of a double-double. Szydlowska came away with 11 points and 13 rebounds to record her third double-double on the season.
Seward will travel to Pratt on Wednesday for a 6:00 p.m. game against the Beavers. The game can be heard on 107.5 FM with Brock Kappelmann on the call.
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