CHANUTE, Kan. – Twice the Neosho Panthers battled back from double digit deficits against rival Allen Community College in their Jayhawk Conference opener. The two runs weren't enough as the Panthers (9-8, 0-1) couldn't hold on falling to the Red Devils (5-13, 1-0) 78-73.
 
The Neosho Panthers, playing without head coach JJ Davis found themselves down 12 late in the first half to rival Allen. The Panthers closed the half on a 12-2 run to cut the Red Devil lead to 34-32 at the half.
                                                      
The Red Devils opened the second half on a 16-0 run as they extended the lead to 50-32. Neosho began the slow climb midway through the half but still trailed 55-40 at the second half under 10 timeout.  
 
After the timeout the Panthers got hot from the 3-point line as Autumn Lipscomb, Jordan Braun, and Camri Burke all knocked down triples a cut the lead to eight forcing Allen to use a timeout. It wouldn't slow down the Neosho run as the Panthers scored seven straight points to pull within 1 at 62-61.
 
Allen answered with a three of their own before Cherish Barry scored six straight points to give the Panthers their first lead of the game making the score 66-65 with under two minutes to go. As she had done all night, Allen's Haley Wilson hit a three when the Red Devils needed them most as the pulled them back ahead on the next possession.
 
Olivia Uhrich hit a three to get the Panthers back within 1 with 30 seconds to go but Allen would put the game away at the free throw line in the final seconds.
 
Uhrich was the only Panther in double figures as she finished with 12 points including 3-7 from the 3-point line. Jordan Braun, Madigan Gonzalez, and Makayla Bell each finished with nine points. Braun knocked down three 3-pointers in the Panthers run to take the lead.
 
The Panthers will take to the road Wednesday (Jan. 15) when they travel to Johnson County Community College for their first road game of the conference schedule.