Williams' career high not enough for Lady 'Neers in loss

January 22, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

NEVADA, Mo. – After a nail-biter in Friday's game, Crowley's Ridge women's basketball fell to hosting Cottey (Mo.) College 79-56 in Cottey's Continental Athletic Conference Classic.

The Lady Pioneers (8-10, 2-2 CAC) usually rely on their 3-point shooting to spark the offense but came up empty in the first half, going 0-7 from deep. Lotti Hoffman paced the guests with five points in the first quarter - three of which were from the charity stripe. After the first 10 minutes, CRC trailed 19-13.

The Cottey (8-10, 2-1 CAC) stiffened in the second quarter, holding the Lady 'Neers to a 4-14 mark from the field. CRC trailed at the intermission 36-25.

Over the course of the season, Crowley's Ridge has relied on a strong second half, scoring a majority of their points in the third quarter. That was not the case Saturday, as CRC bucketed a game-low 10 points in the penultimate quarter.

Kaia Williams tried to rally the troops in the final quarter, scoring nine of her career-high 11 points. The late surge proved too little too late when the buzzer sounded with Cottey on top 79-56.

Lizzy Rowton scored her season's fourth double-digit game with a team-topping 15 points, followed by Williams' 11. The Lady Pioneers ended the day 2-15 from 3-point land, with a bright spot being their 14-17 day from the free-throw line.

Up Next

CRC will hit the road southbound, marking a rematch with the Mississippi University for Women Owls. The Lady 'Neers bested the Owls in Paragould back in November 82-53. Tipoff from Columbus, Mississippi's Pohl Gym is on Tuesday, January 25, at 5:30 p.m.