Chanute, KS- Wednesday night the Panthers hosted the Independence Pirates in game number twenty of the 2016-2017 season. After a much needed win against rival Allen on Saturday, the Panthers were looking to make it two in a row on Wednesday. The Panthers jumped out to an early four point lead in the first quarter thanks to the three point shooting of freshman guard Kelsie Kerns, who went 3 for 3 from behind the arc for the quarter. In the second quarter, the Pirates would battle back and score 23 points to take a 38-35 advantage going into the halftime break. The third quarter has been the Panthers Achilles heel this season. The Panthers have been outscored 399 to 294 in the third quarter this season, but Wednesday the Panthers were able to come out after the half and hold the Pirates to 13 third quarter points. The Panthers also scored 13 points to hold the Pirate lead to just three points. In the fourth quarter, the Panther put the defensive clamps on, only allowing Independence to score 7 points in the final 10 minutes and help them scoreless the final 3:46 of the game. Meanwhile, the Panthers three point assault continued as they added three in the fourth quarter for a total of 13 made three's on the night. Kelsie Kerns was a perfect 4 for 4 for the game from behind the arc. As the quarter reached the final two minutes the Pirates were forced to foul. The Panthers shot their second best percentage on the season from the charity strip at 83 percent. The Panthers defense and high shooting percentage were too much for the visiting Pirates, as the Panthers won by a final score of 70-58.

Sophomore Brooke Neal led all scorers with 23 points and added 5 assists and 6 rebounds to her stat line. Freshman Kelsie Kerns finished with 12 points shooting a perfect 4 for 4 from three.

The Panthers hit the road on Saturday, as they travel to Dodge City, to take on the Conquistadors. Tip off for that game will be 1pm. The Panthers will be back home on Wednesday February 1^st, when they host Hutchinson Community College. Tip time for that game will be at 5:30 pm.