Dayton-Waitsburg can't stop Lady Cougars in third quarter

WAITSBURG–Dayton-Waitsburg's improved scoring in the second half wasn't enough to counter a huge third quarter by the White Swan Cougars as DW dropped a conference game last weekend 64-39.

The Lady D-Dubs are still searching for their first win, and are 0-4 in Eastern Washington Athletic Conference play, 0-10 overall with 10 games to play.

Dayton-Waitsburg visited Columbia last Tuesday (results to be reported next week) and hosts Walla Walla Valley Academy tonight at Waitsburg. The team begins a streak of four games on the road, beginning with Mabton January 18.

Half-time adjustments seemed to spell the difference. "We played a tough game against White Swan," commented Head Coach Tamira Culley, "with just one let down in the third quarter.

"I am extremely proud of the girls," Culley said. "Tonight they played as a team and fought hard."

Freshman point guard Claudia Benavides led all scorers with 16 points, and junior forward Sadie Seney snared 13 rebounds.

The Lady Cougars edged ahead after the first eight minutes 9-6 and further nudged their lead to a not-insurmountable 20-15 at half.

But the White Swan floodgates opened wide in the third quarter as they more than doubled Dayton-Waitsburg scoring with a 28-11 quarter.

Leading 48-26, White Swan coasted to a win, playing even ball with DW in the fourth quarter.

White Swan 64, Dayton-Waitsburg 39 (1-11)

WS 9 11 28 14-64

DW 6 9 11 13-39

DW: Megan Forney 7, Cassidy Laughery 1, Teagen Larsen 3, Destiny Brincken 1, Mackena Culley 3, Claudia Benavides 16, Sadie Seney 8.

FT: Forney, Laughery, Brincken, Benavides 2, Seney 4.

3 PTs: Larsen, Culley.

WS: Nakoda Sampson 15, Haley Bass 3, Briley Bock 11, Jo Scabbyrobe 6, Keegan Wolfsberger 2, Lovey Van Pelt 2, Kiana Castilleja 7, Mel Bass 6, Daisy Pineda 12.

FT: Sampson 5, H. Bass, Rock, Castilleja, Pineda 2.

3 PTs: M. Bass 2.

Rebounds: WS 30, DW 41.

Turnovers: WS 11, DW 28.