Cowley handles Greyhound women, 71-45

Fort Scott's Brittany Pearl (11) drives around Cowley's Emily Barto (5) during the first half of play at Arnold Arena Wednesday night as Cowley's Brittany Bush (23) and Clarissa Cannon (33) prepare to help. Pearl scored 7 points in the Greyhounds' 71-45 Jayhawk Conference loss. (Kenny Felt/Special to the Tribune)

Cowley used big runs to start each half to handle Fort Scott Community College's women in the Jayhawk Conference-Eastern Division opener, 71-45, at Arnold Arena Wednesday night.

The visiting Tigers (1-0 East, 10-3 overall) jumped out to a 21-9 lead in the first half and began the second half with a 17-2 run.

Fort Scott (0-1, 5-7) was able to respond with good play in the late part of each half but were too deep in the hole to fully recover.

Cowley's defense forced 30 turnovers and held the Greyhounds to 9 field goals in 30 attempts. Fort Scott made just 4 of 17 attempts from inside the 3-point line.

The Tigers also held Fort Scott's top scorer, Jolee Sharp in check. She was able to get off just one field-goal attempt in the game and finished with 4 points.

Erica Smith -- who missed the last part of the first half when she got shaken up chasing a loose ball -- and Jatavea Arnold scored 9 points each to lead the 'Hounds. Chynna Ramelb and Symone Murray paced Cowley with 12 points each. Four other Tigers -- Kassy Ptacek, Tonisha Walker, Montia Johnson and Clarissa Cannon -- scored 8 points each.

The Greyhounds host Allen at 2 p.m. Saturday in another division contest.

COWLEY: Laurer 0-1 0-0 0, Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Bryant 3-6 0-0 7, Barto 2-7 0-0 4, Ptacek 3-4 2-3 8, Ramelb 5-9 1-2 12, Murray 6-7 0-2 12, Nolen 0-2 0-0 0, Scott 0-4 0-0 0, Bush 2-5 0-0 4, Walker 3-5 1-2 8, Johnson 2-8 4-6 8, Cannon 1-5 6-6 8. TOTALS: 27-62 14-21 71.

FORT SCOTT: Atherton 1-2 0-0 2, Crawford 0-0 1-2 1, Pearl 1-10 4-4 7, Ivy 0-1 1-2 1, Bradley 0-0 0-0 0, McKenzie 0-2 5-8 5, Sharp 1-1 2-5 4, Lewis 1-4 5-8 7, Arnold 2-3 4-6 9. TOTALS: 9-30 22-37 45.

Halftime: Cowley, 35-24.

Three-point field goals: Cowley 3-10 (Walker 1-1, Bryant 1-2, Ramelb 1-4, Ptacek 0-1, Scott 0-2), Fort Scott 5-13 (Smith 3-6, Arnold 1-2, Pearl 1-5).

Total fouls: Cowley 28, Fort Scott 14. Fouled out: none. Technical fouls: Fort Scott coach Couch.

Rebounds: Cowley 32 (Johnson 5, Cannon 5), Fort Scott 33 (Lewis 11). Assists: Cowley 11 (4 with 2 each), Fort Scott 5 (Ivy 3). Turnovers: Cowley 14, Fort Scott 30. Steals: Cowley 17 (Murray 5), Fort Scott 10 (Sharp 3, Lewis 3). Blocked shots: Cowley 2 (Ramelb, Murray), Fort Scott none.