By Kenton Brooks
WARNER — Nicole Wittman knew the first half was not typical of the Connors State women’s basketball team.
The Cowgirls had 16 turnovers and were tied 30-30 with Murray State at halftime at Melvin Self Field House on Monday night.
“We came out and we weren’t focused,” the 5-11 sophomore forward from Pass Christian, Miss., said. “We were making stupid decisions.”
Playing in their first Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference game, Connors cut the turnovers to three in the second half and had a crucial 9-0 scoring run on the way to toppling the Lady Aggies, 85-68.
Wittman scored the last four points in that run as the Cowgirls extended their lead from 46-41 to 55-41.
“I felt like I brought some intensity to our team at that time,” she said.
The unranked Cowgirls didn’t look back as they continued to build their lead. Their biggest advantage was 20 points at 82-62 on Wittman’s basket with 1:22 left in the game.
Wittman finished with 11 points, one of five Cowgirls to score in double figures. Tanecia Smith led all scorers and paced Connors with 23 points, 13 of those coming in the first half. The others were Magen Roth (20), Kendra Flemming (15) and Sierra Cornwell (10).
Coach Eddie Kite said he thought his team, now 8-1 for the season and 1-0 in conference, had jitters to start the conference opener.
“We were anticipating on playing a good team, and Murray is improved from last year,” he said. “We were sloppy in the first half. But our defense stepped it up in the second half. Our transition game also improved.
Jamiee Harry led Murray (6-3, 1-1) with 20 points, 13 of those in the second 20 minutes. Ayanna Jackson had 10 before fouling out. The Cowgirls’ snapped Murray’s five-game winning streak.
The Cowgirls are off until at 6 p.m. next Tuesday when Carl Albert comes to town.
Connors men 72, Murray State 56
Not many teams are going to match the Cowboys’ physical play this season. Murray State found that out the hard way.
Connors (8-0, 1-0), ranked No. 7 in the latest National Junior College Athletic Association poll, pounded the Aggies inside and dominated from the outside to romp to the conference-opening victory.
Mark Rutledge, a 6-foot-4 guard and Arkansas-Fort Smith transfer, pumped in 14 points. He’s proud of his team’s physical play.
“We’ve got two big hogs inside with (the 6-7 duo) C.J. and Jeremy Washington,” he said. “We’re physical at every position, one through five.”
The Washingtons, who are not related, combined for 33 points. C.J. a sophomore from Stringtown, led the Cowboys with 24 points, scoring 18 of those in the second half. Jeremy scored all nine of his in the first half. Orlando Brown also shined from the outside with 13 points.
The 6-1 sophomore guard from Stringtown excited the crowd in the first half with a rim-shaking dunk. Fans were still talking after the game how he jumped over three players in driving the lane for the slam.
Connors left no doubt who was going to win. It jumped out to a 6-0 lead, increased it to 13-1 and later 17-2. The Cowboys led 37-24 at halftime and increased that 53-31with 13:32 remaining in the game.
“This team is mature,” coach Bill Muse said. “We played hard.”
Murray State coach Randy Rutherford, a former Oklahoma State University player and Broken Bow native, was impressed with Connors.
“They’re big. They’re a good team,” he said. “You have to match up big on the glass with them. Coach Muse does a good job with them.”
LaRon Buggs led the Aggies (5-5, 1-1) with 17 points and BayShon Payne added 10.
Connors hits the road to Dallas on Friday and Saturday to play in the Richland Classic. The next home game is 8 p.m. next Tuesday against Carl Albert.
