Cottey College picked up a hard‑fought AMC road win on Saturday afternoon, outlasting Central Baptist 82–76 behind one of its most balanced offensive performances of the season. After falling behind 29–18 in the first quarter, the Comets responded with poise and toughness, outscoring the Mustangs 64–47 the rest of the way to secure their second conference victory.
The turning point came in the second quarter, where Cottey tightened defensively and held CBC to just 11 points. From there, the Comets' depth and ball movement took over, producing four double‑figure scorers and 16 team assists.
But the biggest storyline of the afternoon belonged to sophomore forward Ellaina LaNear, who delivered a career‑high 18 points in a dominant interior performance.
Career Day for Ellaina LaNear
LaNear was outstanding from start to finish, finishing with:
-
18 points (career high)
-
6-of-9 shooting
-
6-of-8 at the free‑throw line
-
9 rebounds
-
3 steals
-
Zero turnovers in 28 minutes
She controlled the paint on both ends, attacked the offensive glass, and provided the steady scoring presence Cottey needed to erase the early deficit. Her efficiency and physicality set the tone for the Comets' comeback.
Balanced Scoring Fuels the Win
Cottey's offense clicked throughout the final three quarters, with multiple players stepping up:
-
AuShae Farris — 13 points, 2 steals
-
Gabrielle Burrus — 11 points, 5 assists, 2 steals
-
Andrea Aragon — 11 points, 3 threes
-
Sadie Hubbard — 8 points, perfect 3-for-3 shooting
-
Navaeh Sanchez — 9 points, 2 threes off the bench
-
Makenzie Haynes — 6 points in just 4 minutes
-
Ava Maner — 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals in another strong all‑around outing
Cottey shot 44.3% from the field, knocked down eight threes, and outrebounded CBC 41–39.
Looking Ahead
With the win, Cottey improves to 3–11 (2–3 AMC) and continues to build momentum as conference play heats up. LaNear's breakout performance and the team's balanced scoring offer plenty of positives as the Comets move forward.
