Lady Trojans Struggle Out of Break, Fall to Cowley

Colby’s shorthanded run finally met its breaking point Friday night as the Lady Trojans returned from Thanksgiving break and fell 57–44 to Cowley inside the Colby Event Center. The loss dropped Colby to 5–5 overall and 2–2 in conference play after an encouraging stretch of competitive outings despite a tight rotation.

From the jump, the energy level that had carried Colby through the early weeks of the season just wasn’t there. The Lady Trojans edged ahead 12–11 after the first quarter, but Cowley controlled the tempo from the second quarter on, outscoring Colby 24–5 in a decisive third frame to build a 47–25 lead heading into the fourth. Colby’s late push produced a 19-point final quarter, but the deficit proved too steep to overcome.

Head Coach Darin Spence offered blunt assessment afterward, noting that the team’s thin depth and heavy minutes finally caught up with them.

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“We got outplayed in every phase of the game. No excuses, nothing else to it than that,” Spence said. “I truly believe we have been riding a shorthanded roster for a while now and playing kids a lot of minutes, with some success, but it just came to a halt. Call it mental fatigue or something else, but we just didn’t get after it like we are capable. Credit Cowley in giving us their best and taking it to us. Good team and they made the plays. When you dig a big hole like we did, it takes a lot of energy to make that comeback and we ran out of gas. Just not a good overall performance from us and we need to coach better and play better.”

Colby shot 31.4 percent from the field and 20.8 percent from beyond the arc while turning the ball over 23 times, a number Cowley converted into 25 points the other way. The Lady Trojans did win the rebounding battle 32–29, but Cowley’s efficiency and deeper bench created problems throughout the afternoon. Cowley finished with 27 bench points and shot nearly 40 percent from the floor.

Dessirae Ulmer continued her steady play, recording a team-high 10 points along with nine rebounds. Olivia Hultgren added six points, three assists, and two rebounds while working through heavy defensive pressure. Sophomore guard Jera Kruleski delivered eight points and hit a pair of threes, while Elia Ando provided a spark off the bench with six points and three rebounds in limited minutes. Paishintz Booker and Regina Pasti contributed on the glass, and Piri Lewis added four assists to help spur the late rally.

The fourth quarter showcased the resilience Spence has praised throughout the early season. Colby trimmed the margin to single digits behind a string of defensive stops and timely scoring, highlighted by a three from Hultgren and strong inside finishes from Ulmer and Kruleski. But Cowley’s early burst had already done the damage. The Tigers sealed the game at the free-throw line and controlled the final two minutes.

Cowley’s leading scorer, Aniyah Burney, posted 18 points, while Megan Simon and Mallory Jackson added nine each. The Tigers improved to 5–3 overall and 1–1 in the league after their efficient road effort.

Despite the setback, the Lady Trojans remain in a strong position as they move deeper into conference play. Friday’s loss marked only the second home defeat of the year, and with several key players working their way back toward full health, Colby aims to regain its early-season form.

The Trojans next travel to Dodge City on December 3 before returning home to face Cloud County on December 6.

by Derek White