BOONE — Third quarter defense continues to be a recurring issue for the Southwestern Community College women’s basketball team, which lost on the road to DMACC Wednesday 83-68 in ICCAC play.
The Spartans led 32-30 at half, and competed with the Bears even better than they had when DMACC came to Creston Jan. 25.
But again, a poor defensive third quarter reared its ugly head.
“It wasn’t anything offensively that they were doing that I think forced us to struggle, especially in that third quarter,” Southwestern coach Addae Houston said. “I think what it was was we didn’t make good decisions offensively with our shot selection and we had some turnovers and more in my opinion.”
“Unfortunately that’s been our Achilles Heel all season long.”
The Bears harassed the Spartans with consistent full-court pressure and traps in the half-court.
The decision-making on the part of the Spartans wasn’t good enough to get the job done in the second half.
“We were not doing the right things,” Houston said. “Little things. It caused us to turn the ball over in that third quarter and our shot selection was poor.”
Bad offensive possessions for the Spartans turned into transition opportunities and more looks for the Bears, who took advantage for 28 points in the third quarter.
What was a two-point halftime lead turned into a 10-point lead headed into the fourth for DMACC.
The loss continues a string of 12 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 21 where the Spartans have followed a win with a loss.
Consistency for 40 minutes will be the ideal for the Spartans going forward. It will have to be for Southwestern to head into postseason play feeling good.
“We have to get over the hump of playing poorly in one of the quarters in the second half,” Houston said.
Julanie Carter led the Spartans with 23 points. Eriayana Frazier and Chelsi Sams added 16 and nine respectively.
Shayla Dean led the Bears with 17 points.
UP NEXT — SWCC (15-12, 4-7) plays host to Iowa Lakes (10-17, 2-8) Saturday at 1 p.m. The Spartans defeated the Lakers 66-64 on Jan. 28.
Southwestern went 4-of-23 from beyond the 3-point arc the previous meeting, one of the worst shooting performances of the season.
The Spartans hope to continue their stretch of rebounding victories and defeats, for Saturday at least. Southwestern has three games remaining in the regular season.
Saturday’s game is Sophomore Day, the last regular season home game of the year.
A win in any of the next three games would guarantee the program a winning season.