Date: 11/21/2023
Kankakee Community College was edged out by Kalamazoo Valley Community College Tuesday, giving the Lady Cavaliers their first loss of the young season.
In the first quarter, the duo of Valorie Dagg and Jazmyn Smith powered the Cavaliers to a 9-2 lead. Brianna Sneed hit a 3-pointer to put KCC ahead by 10. The Cougars, led by 6 points from Brynne Johnson, narrowed the Cavaliers’ lead to 14-12. The first quarter ended with KCC ahead 17-15 after the Cavs’ Kayla Jackson hit a 3-pointer, but it was matched by a buzzer-beating trey from the Cougars.
Early in the second quarter, Jackson and Sneed recorded 3-pointers, helping the Cavaliers score 7 consecutive points. The Cougars responded with 12 straight points, to even up the game. Amaria Pender scored 4 points for KCC, but Kalamazoo Valley was able to take a 35-28 lead at the half.
The Cougars extended their lead to 15 points, before Pender recorded 4 points and Jaida Taylor added 2 points to stall the Cougars. The Cavaliers recorded three 3-pointers in quick succession, one from Pender and two from Sneed. Aniyah Moody rounded out the third quarter scoring with a 3-point play to narrow the Cavaliers deficit to seven.
The Cavaliers bounced back in impressive fashion, outscoring the Cougars 23-17 in the fourth quarter. At one point, Smith scored a free throw to put the Cavaliers under by just five points, 54-49. Kalamazoo Valley responded with four points, but a 3-pointer by Jackson and a three-point play from Pender narrowed the Cougars’ lead to 3 points. The Cougars were leading 68-64 with seconds left in the game. Smith scored a three-pointer, but the Cavaliers could not get another bucket.
The final score was KCC, 67, and Kalamazoo Valley, 68.
Pender led the Cavaliers with 15 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds. Sneed had 12 points (four 3-pointers), 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Smith tacked on 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals. Dagg had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 1 steal. Jackson added 9 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals.
The Cavaliers are 5-1, and will return home to face Oakton College at 5:30 pm on Thursday, Nov. 30.
