PRATT, Kan.- Searching for a win following a narrow loss to Coffeyville over the weekend, Pratt refused to allow the after effects to linger. Sinking the Pirates 80-52 earlier this evening, the Beavers found a very simple recipe for success: defense and the three-ball.
Continuing to grow into a more permanent role among the starting five, freshman Jordan Mathis exploded for a career-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Tonight marked her third consecutive game with at least 10 rebounds. Shooting five of nine from beyond the arc, Mathis' five triples were more than double her season total for the year. Sophomore Tytiana Haamid came off the bench to provide 17 points in relief, including a team-high 11 rebounds. Haamid shot 50 percent from the floor (7-14) and knocked down a pair of threes in her own right.
Dymond McElrath provided an offensive boost from the point guard position, posting 11 points on a night where she finished 55 percent on her field goal attempts (5-9). Janell Douvier was conservative yet efficient on the offensive end of the floor, connecting on three of her five attempts. She ended the night with nine points.
As it was mentioned before, defense and the long ball scripted the narrative for the Beavers. As a team, Pratt shot 41 percent from deep (13-32), while forcing Independence into 24 turnovers. Coach Ishee's team harrassed the visiting team on the perimeter, as the Pirates only managed to make two of their 12 attempts from behind the three-point line (16.7 percent).
Women's basketball has the holiday break in front of them before returning on January 4 when the Beaver Dome plays host to Neosho County. Women's basketball will tip-off the first game at 2 PM as the latter matchup of an afternoon doubleheader.