Women’s Basketball Heads to No. 25 Coffeyville for Road Test

The Trojans women's basketball team looks to carry its recent momentum into another challenging KJCCC matchup as the Trojans travel to face No. 25 Coffeyville on Saturday (Dec. 13). With confidence building after a strong week of performances, Colby aims to continue climbing the conference standings, currently sitting eighth.

Colby enters the weekend following two of its most complete outings of the season. The Trojans earned a hard-fought 55–48 home win over Cloud County, delivering an elite defensive effort against one of the conference's highest-scoring teams. Cloud entered averaging more than 82 points per game with four players in double figures, but the Trojans held the T-Birds to a season-low 48 points on just 29 percent shooting. 

Earlier in the week, Colby battled No. 1 Dodge City on the road, ultimately falling 64–48 after a second-quarter surge from the undefeated Conquistadors. Despite the loss, the Trojans showed poise, trailing by just three late in the first half. Dessirae Ulmer delivered one of her best performances of the season, finishing with 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting along with eight rebounds. For her combined efforts against the nation's top team and in a win over Cloud County, Ulmer earned a nomination for KJCCC Player of the Week.

The Trojans feature a balanced offensive trio, with three players averaging double figures on the season. Dessirae Ulmer continues to lead the way at 13.0 points per game while also anchoring Colby on the glass with a team-best 7.1 rebounds per outing. Freshman guard Olivia Hultgren has emerged as one of the conference's most steady playmakers, averaging 10.6 points per game and a team-high 2.4 assists. 

Coffeyville enters the matchup at 10–2 (4–2 KJCCC) and ranked No. 25 in the latest NJCAA Division I poll and sixth in conference action. The Red Ravens are coming off a loss to No. 1 Dodge City but previously defeated Cowley 67–52, a team that edged Colby earlier this season.

The Red Ravens are one of the conference's most disciplined and physical defensive units, leading the KJCCC by allowing just 47.1 points per game. Coffeyville also controls the glass better than any team in the league, averaging a conference-best 45.4 rebounds per game. Colby, by contrast, is looking to close the gap in that category with its current mark of 32.9 rebounds per game.

Offensively, Coffeyville averages 66.2 points per outing and is not afraid to shoot from deep. The Red Ravens attempt 24.9 three-pointers per game, third-most in the conference, and have launched 299 threes on the season while converting nearly 30 percent of them.

Individually, Esme Smith leads the entire KJCCC in rebounding at 9.5 per game, anchoring the Red Ravens' interior presence. Aubrey Hishaw leads the team in scoring at 14.0 points per contest, while Hallie Kitchen and Karliey Parker provide strong ball movement, each averaging 3.5 assists per game.

Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., with streaming information available above. Saturday's matchup will mark Colby's final contest of the semester before the Trojans return home to open the new year against Hutchinson on Saturday (Jan. 3).