​Chanute, KS - The Neosho women's basketball team captured their first Jayhawk Conference win of the season, sliding past the Cowley Tigers for a 71-67 win on Wednesday.

Neosho (6-10), 1-8 KJCCC) was able to capture their first home win over Cowley (15-5, 5-5 KJCCC) since the early 1990's on the back of 37.5% percent field goal shooting, including shooting 87.5 percent from the free-throw line in a crucial fourth quarter.
After a slow offensive start to the game, Cowley jumped to an early 5-0 lead until Sophomore Morgan Bolen hit back to back threes to start a 10-0 run for the Panthers. But the Tigers clawed their way back and ended the first quarter up by one 17-16.

The second quarter was much like the first. Neosho went 5-14 from the field and 3-11 from the three. Cowley remained with the lead 33-31 to end the first half.

Third-quarter the scoring was even between the Panthers and Tigers. Both teams scored 18 points for the quarter making the Panthers still down two with a score of 51-49.

To start the fourth quarter Cowley went on another 5-0 run until a couple of free throws made by Morgan Bolen put the Panthers back within four with six minutes left to play. Tigers went on another 7-0 run with 4 minutes left, until a big three-point bucket by Freshman Lauren Jones, which put the Panthers back within four, 59-63, with three minutes left in regulation. Big-time play by Sophomore Jessica Jones driving to the rim and gets fouled which puts her on the line and she makes both making the score 65-64 Cowley leading by one with two minutes left in the game. With less than eight seconds left to play in the game, Jones hits a pull up jumper as she was fouled sending her to the line to shoot one putting the Panthers in the lead 69-67. Jones hits her free throw, Neosho on top 70-67 with five seconds left to play. Cowley tries for a last-second three-point shot for the tie and misses, Jones with the defensive rebound and was fouled again with .01 seconds sending her to the line to shoot two. Jessica knocked down one of two, securing the win against Cowley 71-67.

"We did a really good job defensively," said Coach JJ Davis. " We were able to get more open shots on the outside after establishing our game in the paint— driving and drawing fouls helped that along. After our game earlier this week, it was important for us to be able to put together a complete game and compete in all four quarters."

The Panthers were led by the 16 points of sophomore Morgan Bolen. Jessica Jones nearly recorded a double-double, picking up 14 points and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes of work. Chrissy Brown added 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. Lauren Jones chipped in 9 points. Sophomore Hayley Stiger also was just shy of a double-double with 8 points and 8 boards.

"We really needed this win tonight and several players stepped up to make it happen," said Neosho's head coach JJ Davis. "We moved and shared the ball better today which made a big difference. Morgan, Chrissy, and Jessica were extremely efficient tonight on the offensive end. We need to find some consistency moving forward. There are no easy games in this conference, and we can't afford to take days off when it comes to energy, effort, and focus."