Box Score Ashley Grant scored a career high 24 points and the Neosho County Panthers held off a second half charge by Fort Scott to pick up their fourth win of the season.
Fans got their first look at the new landscape of the Jayhawk Conference Wednesday night as the Panthers hosted former conference opponent Fort Scott Community College. With changes to the conference alignment, the NJCAA Division II Greyhounds are no longer in the same division as the Panthers.
Neosho County took an early 19-10 lead thanks in large part to eight quick points from
Danel Stithem after a jumper and back to back threes. Fort Scott would not get closer than five points for the rest of the half.
Dena English gave the Panthers their largest lead of the half when her three put Neosho on top 36-24. The Greyhounds would close the half on an 9-3 run, and the Panthers led 39-33 at the half.
After scoring only six first half points,
Ashley Grant fueled a Panther run to open the second half as she scored on the first three possessions. A three from Stithem would give them their largest lead of the game at 51-38.
Fort Scott would begin to chip away at the Panther lead at that point. The Greyhound's leading scorer, Malori Gales, was carrying the bulk of their scoring load. Gales scored 14 second half points and the Greyhounds cut the Panthers lead to two with just over 6 minutes to play.
Grant once again put the Panthers on her back and helped push the lead back out to six points, but Fort Scott would once again answer back. Three made free throws by Fort Scott and a field goal from Gales cut the Panthers lead to one with 7 seconds left on the clock.
Mackenzie Dunbar hit two big free throws down the stretch for the Panthers who held on for a 77-75 win.
Ashley Grant led the Panthers with 24 points with 18 coming in the second half. Grant also grabbed a team high eight rebounds.
Danielle Randle finished with a full stat sheet as she scored 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds while dishing out a career high 7 assists.
Danel Stithem also finished in double figures with 12 points to go with 3 assists.
The Panthers improve to 4-4 on the year with the win. They will be back in action at home Friday (Nov. 22) when they host Midland College at 5:30pm.
