Lady Trojans Battle No. 1 Dodge City on the Road, Show Growth in 64-48 Loss

Facing the top-ranked NJCAA team in the nation on their home floor is a test few squads are equipped to pass, and on Wednesday night in Dodge City, the Colby Community College Lady Trojans found themselves up against a powerful, undefeated Conquistador lineup. Despite an early scoring burst and several strong stretches of play, Colby fell 64-48 in the conference matchup.

Colby opened the night with confidence, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind layups from Dessirae Ulmer and Piri Lewis. That early edge would be the Trojans’ largest of the game before Dodge City’s size, pace, and relentless pressure began to dictate the tempo. A 20–11 first quarter set the tone, but Colby continued to compete and showed resilience throughout.

Head coach Darin Spence said the early moments were a valuable learning curve for his young roster.

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“Early on we were a bit rattled by their size and aggression,” Spence said. “We did settle in and found stretches where we did some good things. We have to sustain our runs and lengthen those out in all games. It’s just a consistency thing for us, as we are all getting back healthy and getting on the same one. Dodge City is the number one ranked team in the country for a reason and they are dang talented and expose weaknesses.”

The stat sheet underscored the challenge: Dodge City attempted 71 field goals and hit 11 three-pointers, while also forcing 24 Colby turnovers. That pressure produced 25 points off turnovers for the Conquistadors compared to just eight for the Trojans.

Still, Colby produced several bright spots—none bigger than sophomore forward Dessirae Ulmer. Ulmer turned in one of her strongest performances of the season, scoring a game-high 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting while pulling down eight rebounds in just 20 minutes of action. Her efficiency around the rim was a steadying force throughout the contest and kept the Trojans within reach during multiple key stretches.

Freshman forward Elia Ando also provided a lift off the bench with eight points and four rebounds, including a pair of late free throws and a buzzer-beating jumper to close the game. Guards Jera Kruleski and Paishintz Booker each knocked down a three, while Amisha Russell added three points and four rebounds.

While the Trojans shot 38 percent from the floor—better than Dodge City’s 33.8 percent—they struggled from long range (3-of-23) and simply could not match the Conquistadors’ volume of opportunities. Both teams ended with 34 rebounds, a sign of Colby’s willingness to compete on the glass against one of the most athletic frontcourts in the conference.

Dodge City, now 9-0 on the season, showcased its balance with five players scoring nine or more points, including 15 from Jolie Mantz and 11 from Manuela Piljevic. Their third-quarter surge—outscoring Colby 21-17—proved key in putting the game out of reach.

Colby (now 6-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play following their next contest) will return home for a crucial stretch of KJCCC games as they continue to develop chemistry and regain full health. Coach Spence remains optimistic about what lies ahead.

“When we’re consistent and connected, we’re a tough team,” he said. “We’re getting closer. Nights like this help prepare us for the rest of conference play.”

The Lady Trojans next take the court Saturday at Coffeyville Community College

by Derek White