#14 Ravens win nail-biter over Hutch, 51-50

The Coffeyville Lady Ravens survived and during the Region 6 Tournament, surviving is all that matters.  The Red Ravens won a 51-50 nail-biter over the Hutchinson Blue Dragons on Saturday night in the second round of the Region 6 Tournament at the Charles Koch Arena on the campus of Wichita State University.  The Ravens will next face Cloud County, an 89-84 winner over Fort Scott, in the Region 6 semi-finals on Monday afternoon.  Tip off will be at 3 p.m. at the Charles Koch Arena in Wichita.

After falling behind 21-18 at the halftime break, the Ravens trailed Hutchinson by as many as eight early in the second half before mounting a comeback.  The Ravens led by as many as six, 49-43 with 2:58 remaining, before the Blue Dragons mounted one last charge.  Hutchinson went on a 7-2 run and trailed by just one, 51-50 with 1:23 remaining in regulation.  After the Ravens Lacie Ward missed a three-point attempt with 35 seconds remaining, Hutchinson's Amanda Fessenden pulled down the rebound, giving the Blue Dragons an opportunity to take the lead.  After working the ball around the perimeter, Hutchinson's Kariz Bioni drove into the lane with eight seconds remaining and got an open look from about 10 foot from the basket, but her shot hit off the back iron and rebounded into the hands of Coffeyville's Shyvon Spears who was then fouled with five seconds left.  Spears missed both free throws, but the Blue Dragons could only get a desperation half court three-point attempt as time expired.

Tasha Parker was the lone Raven in double-figures with 10 points.  The Ravens shot just 33% from the field on the game and struggled from the free throw line as well, making just 6-of-18.  The Ravens defense came up big, though.  The Ravens held Hutchinson to 37% shooting from the field and forced 25 Blue Dragon turnovers.  The Red Ravens committed only nine turnovers for the game.

With the win, the Ravens are now 29-3 overall on the season.   The Ravens are one win away from tying the school record for wins, accomplished during the 1997-1998 season.  If the Ravens defeat Cloud County on Monday afternoon, they would face the winner of the Seward County-Butler game on Tuesday night for the Region 6 championship and a bid to the NJCAA Women's National Tournament.

Hutchinson-Coffeyville Boxscore

Region 6 Women's Tournament Bracket

Wichita State University Map (Tournament games at Wichita are at WSU's Koch Arena, 21st and Hillside)

Lacie Ward hits the floor to battle for a loose ball during the Ravens 51-50 win over Hutchinson on Saturday night.

Brittany Rochelle drives toward the basket for two of her six points.

Asaiah Lowe applies pressure along the baseline against Hutch's Amanda Fessenden in the second half of Coffeyville's win on Saturday night.