Women's Basketball Rally Late to Secure Third Straight Conference Win

GARDEN CITY, Kan. - Colby's women's basketball team continued its surge in KJCCC play Wednesday (Jan. 14) night, erasing a double-digit deficit to defeat Garden City 53–50 on the road. The comeback victory marked Colby's third straight conference win, two of which have come away from home, and showcased the Trojans defensive intensity and poise down the stretch.

Garden City struck first, opening the game with a three-pointer and a layup before Piri Lewis provided an immediate spark off the bench, knocking down her first shot of the night. Both teams settled into a defensive battle early, but the Broncbusters found a rhythm late in the opening quarter, connecting on a three and two consecutive layups to build a double-digit advantage. Colby responded behind baskets from Easha Potts and Jera Kruleski, while Dessirae Ulmer added a late bucket, though Garden City still carried a 17–10 lead into the second quarter.

The Trojans opened the second quarter with a three from Amisha Russell, but scoring remained hard to come by for both sides. Colby did not hit another field goal until the final minutes of the half, relying on free throws to stay within striking distance. Adrian Neal provided a crucial boost off the bench, drilling a three-pointer in her first action of the game to pull Colby within single digits. Despite the offensive struggles, the Trojans went into halftime down just 27–18.

The third quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, with Colby beginning to find its offensive footing. Ulmer and Potts combined for 11 of the 13 points in the period, helping the Trojans outscore Garden City 13–12. Still, the Broncbusters maintained control, and Colby entered the fourth quarter trailing 39–31.

After Garden City briefly pushed the lead back to 10, the Trojans began to chip away. Olivia Hultgren ignited the rally with a timely three-pointer, while Ulmer went to work in the paint, finishing through contact converting at the free-throw line. Colby's defense then took over, forcing a series of turnovers that completely shifted momentum.

Back-to-back steals by Potts and Paishintz Booker led to key scoring opportunities, and Colby capitalized. Free throws by Lewis tied the game at 45–45 with just over eight minutes remaining, and moments later, Lewis finished a strong layup to knot the score again at 48–48. She followed with clutch free throws to give Colby its first lead of the quarter.

From there, Lewis and Hultgren combined to knock down critical free throws, while Colby's defense continued to disrupt Garden City's offense. After trailing by as many as 10 in the fourth quarter, Colby closed the game on a 22–11 run to secure the three-point road victory. Colby shot 81.5 percent from the free-throw line and held Garden City to just 11 points in the final quarter, sealing a hard-earned comeback win.

Ulmer led the Trojans with 15 points and seven rebounds, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Lewis added 12 points, including several late-game free throws, while Potts recorded a strong all-around performance with eight points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. Hultgren chipped in seven points, including the momentum-shifting three in the fourth quarter.

The Trojans now sit 9-8 (6-5 KJCCC) and are ready to face off against Butler in the Olby Event Cenetr this Saturday (Jan. 17) at 1:00 p.m.