Lady Trojans battle in Liberal, escape with win

Colby Community College put together one of its most competitive road efforts of the early conference slate on Saturday, pushing Seward County for more than three quarters before the Saints strung together a late surge to hand the Trojans a 72–62 loss inside The Greenhouse in Liberal. The game featured six ties and eight lead changes, and for long stretches the Trojans appeared poised to steal an early KJCCC road win despite their short rotation and ongoing battle with injuries.

Colby opened the afternoon with energy and pace, shooting nearly fifty percent from the floor and riding a sharp start from the guard line. The Trojans built a 19–11 lead after the first quarter behind the shooting of two Kansas girls, Amisha Russell and Jera Kruleski, then continued to hold the edge going into halftime, up 35–29 after another efficient frame in which Colby moved the ball well and defended with purpose. The Trojans recorded nineteen assists on twenty-five made baskets for the game, one of their most balanced offensive performances of the season.

Russell canned five three-pointers on her way to fifteen points, and Kruleski led Colby with eighteen, shooting seven of ten from the field and knocking down three triples of her own. Dessirae Ulmer added thirteen points and several timely baskets that kept Colby steady during various Seward runs. Freshman point guard Paishintz Booker distributed the ball with poise, finishing with three assists, while Logan Nolan recorded ten assists off the bench, helping Colby find quality looks throughout the contest.

Colby’s largest lead reached seventeen in the second quarter after back-to-back scoring possessions and a defensive stand that forced multiple Seward turnovers. The Trojans shot fifty percent from three-point range and held their own in the paint, outscoring Seward 30–28 inside. They also generated thirteen second-chance points while keeping pace on the boards against one of the league’s more physical frontcourts.

But as the game progressed, the Trojans’ thin rotation became a factor. With several key players still recovering from injuries, Colby was forced to extend minutes for its remaining core. Seward began chipping away late in the third quarter and then found its rhythm during a decisive fourth-quarter run, outscoring Colby 24–12 in the final ten minutes. Seward’s Avery Marchino proved to be the difference, piling up 26 points while the Saints went 18 of 19 from the free-throw line, an area that tilted the game. Colby attempted just five free throws in comparison.

Head Coach Darin Spence credited his team for the toughness they showed on the road. He noted that Colby executed well for most of the game, defended with consistency, and stayed within reach until the final minutes. However, he also pointed out the challenge of playing shorthanded, the heavy minutes many players were forced to absorb, and the need to sustain focus at a high level for longer stretches. Spence added that the team typically leans on earning twenty-plus free-throw attempts per game, and falling well short of that benchmark made the margin for error thinner.

Despite the loss, Colby showed continued growth through adversity. With a 5–4 overall record and a 2–1 mark in conference play, the Trojans remain competitive in the early KJCCC standings and continue to make strides while awaiting the return of several key contributors.

Colby returns to action this Saturday at the Colby Event Center hosting the Cowley County Tigers, local radio NWKS Radio has sponsored that game to provide the community with free admission. Also, taking place at the Event Center will be NWKS Radio’s Christmas Marketplace in the auxiliary gym.