By Chistopher Wilson

Contributing Writer

After a rough first half, USAO’s women’s basketball team sent the Southwestern Moundbuilders back to Kansas with a 69-85 loss during USAO’s homecoming weekend, Saturday, Nov. 2.

The Drovers took an early lead in Saturday’s game when guard Reyna Ammons went full court for an easy layup after taking one of her first of five steals in the game and getting the Drovers a quick bucket.

That was the last time the Drovers led during the first two quarters. The Drovers’ defense kept the ‘Builders outside the paint, but that didn’t stop the Kansas squad from making it rain  from downtown, making several 3-point buckets, and keeping the lead all the way into the half, and sending the Drovers to the locker room trailing by five with a score of 34-29.

Whatever USAO’s Head Coach Darrick Matthews said in the locker room brought a different team to the court at the start of the second half. The squad quickly came back to tie the ‘Builders, and take the lead.

The Drovers’ lead began to look shaky early in the fourth quarter when forward Khady Sene earned a technical foul after a block, then later fouled out, leaving the game with six points, one assist, five rebounds, and one steal.

USAO quickly recovered, with freshman guard Milagros Carrera scoring 19 points off the bench, and going 2-2 from outside the arch.

Ammons finished the game with an impressive 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals while Kaytlen Johnson posted 16 points, and 6 rebounds.

“It just took us awhile to get going,” said Matthews after the game. “We’re going to learn from this game. I’m just glad it’s with a win.”

The Drovers will visit Benedictine College Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. to kick off a series of away games that will include stops at Lindenwood University-Belleville Nov. 9, the University of the Southwest Nov. 15, and Northern New Mexico College Nov. 16, before returning home on Nov. 21 to face Central Christian College at the USAO Field House.