Thunderbirds suffer conference road loss to Independence

INDEPENDENCE — Three-point shooting and points off turnovers sparked the Independence Community College Pirates to a 94-63 Jayhawk Conference victory over the Cloud County Community College Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon.
Cloud County, which had beaten Independence 77-57 in the first meeting this season, was outscored by 33 points (45-12) from three-point range in the rematch.
The Pirates turned 21 Cloud County turnovers into 32 points on their way to avenging that earlier loss.
“We have gotten ourselves into a real pattern here of not being able to guard the three-point line, really, at all. And people are hitting shots against us. And we gave up a bunch of possessions and a bunch points and that is it,” Cloud County coach Brett Erkenbrack said. “We threw it straight to them in the backcourt a bunch of times and to Independence’s credit they attacked the basket really well in two on one and three on two transition situations off of live ball turnovers and they converted. And they hit some threes off of turnovers too. And it added up in a hurry.”
Cloud County, now 13-12 overall and 9-11 in the Jayhawk, has dropped six straight conference road games and has allowed more than 90 points in each of the last three.
Independence, now 14-11 overall and 8-11 in conference play, led 11-7 early.
Baskets by Maimouna Sissoko and Josephine Igherighe pulled Cloud County even at 11-11 with 5:26 to play in the first quarter.
The Pirates knocked down three three-point shots and had two layups off of steals during a 15-4 blitz that gave them a 26-15 advantage.
Independence had 17 steals in the game, led by Sabrina Larsson with five.
Igherighe made two free throws and Darcy Lierz hit a three as time expired in the first quarter to pull Cloud County within six points, 26-20.
Independence, connecting on three more threes, outscored the T-Birds 13-5 in the first 4:21 of the second period to go up 38-25.
Buckets by Bailey Burns and Sissoko cut the Cloud County deficit to nine points, 38-29.
The Pirates scored the next eight points, and led 46-29.
Two free throws by Sissoko and a baseline jumper by Burns left Cloud County trailing 46-33 at halftime.
The lead was still 13 points, 54-41, when Independence used a 13-3 spurt to increase it to 67-44.
Another three by Lierz and two free throws by Sissoko left the T-Birds trailing 67-49.
Merveille Nkoyock made a three as time expired in the third quarter to give the Pirates a 70-49 cushion.
Independence outscored Cloud County 24-14 over the final 10 minutes.
Sissoko led four T-Birds in double figures with 21 points. She pulled down 14 rebounds.
Igherighe finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Burns scored 14 points and Lierz added 10.
Cloud County was 24 of 65 from the field for 37 percent.
Nkoyock paced Independence with 24 points.
Larrson scored 20 points for the Pirates. Jasirae Vick scored 17 points. Serenity Echols scored 14 and Sunishka Kartik chipped in 11.
The Pirates were 36 of 77 from the floor for 47 percent.
Cloud County hosts Pratt Community College on Wednesday night.