Pratt, Kan. - As the calendar page turned to November so did the start of the Beaver basketball season. The Pratt Community College women's basketball team wasted no time in getting their season started tonight, November 1st against Otero College. The Rattlers of Otero came out strong in the first quarter by putting up 30 points and taking a ten-point lead into the second quarter 30-20. The Beavers didn't let Otero's quick start stop them from making a run of their own. By the five-minute mark of the second quarter Pratt had pulled it within three 33-30. At halftime time Otero lead 45-41.
With 4:14 left in the third quarter the Beavers were able to tie the game up at 55-55. At the end of the quarter the Rattlers held onto the lead 66-60. Pratt would take control of the scoreboard at the 4:41 mark of the fourth quarter 72-71. The last four minutes were back and forth with Pratt taking an 81-80 lead off a jumper by freshman Emily Acton. Freshman Isis Sanders was able to make two free throws to grow the lead 83-80 with 27 seconds left. In the last minute of the game, Otero missed two open three pointers, but were able to close the lead to just one point off a jump shot with 19 seconds left. The Beavers would hold on to win 83-82.
"The fun thing about today is we got to see a little bit of what works and what we need to work on," said Head Coach Eric Rodewald. "We had five kids in double figures. It's just good to have versatility coming off the bench and it was really fun."
Acton finished the game with 18 points, freshman Macy Hanzlick had 17 points and lead the team with 9 rebounds, and sophomore Jade McAlister had 17 points and eight rebounds. Both freshman Sanders and Takiera Boudreaux rounded out the five in double figures with 10 and 11 points.
The Beavers will look to capitalize off this win as they will travel to Western Oklahoma State College in Altus, OK on Friday, November 4. Tip-off is set for 5:30 pm.
