The home opener for the Cottey Comets had fans on their feet in Hinkhouse Center but in the end, the night ended in heartbreak. 

On a night set aside to show appreciation to Cottey faculty and all Veterans in attendance, the Comets battled, holding a lead heading into the fourth quarter.  But inexperience showed in the final minutes as crucial stops slipped away.

Cottey's offense was sparked by Gabby Burrus, who poured in 19 points, with AuShae Farris adding 17 and Makenzie Haynes chipping in 11. Ellaina LaNear and Sydney Stumpf contributed, with  7 and 8 rebounds, respectively.

Southwestern struggled from beyond the arc for much of the night, hitting only 9 of 30 three-point attempts—but those triples came up huge when it mattered most down the stretch. Coach Eatman reflected on the tough finish: "In what proved to be a back and forth game, our defense and offensive execution failed us in the last five minutes. I want to thank the students for all the energy they brought to Hinkhouse."

After leading into the fourth quarter, the Comets were outscored 28-15 in the final frame, giving Southwestern a 70-58 victory.