WBB can't overcome 1st quarter shortcomings in loss to Cowley- Cameron Cox

[Arkansas City, KS-Dec 10th, 2025] - Women's Basketball was on the road against Cowley for a road conference game. The Beavers fought hard but would fall to the Tigers 70-52

Game Recap:  

Pratt (6-6, 2-5) got off to a cold first quarter start not being able to score early. Cowley (7-5, 3-3) also struggled to score early on with just one point scored between the two teams for the first three minutes of gametime. The Tigers hit a three pointer with 6:45 to go in the first which would give them a 4-0 lead. Cowley started to heat up after they nailed the three pointer. The Beavers first points would come with 4:54 left in the first as Nela Charynek hit a three to make the score 3-9. Despite the three the Beavers did not gain momentum from the shot as the Tigers would extend their lead to 18-3. In the final minute of the quarter the beavers finally started scoring the ball after Polla Balint scored a bucket and Nela Charynek hit another three pointer. The Tigers led the Beavers after the first quarter 20-8. The Beavers struggled with turnovers in the first quarter turning the ball over 11 times and only taking 10 shots. When the beavers did get a shot off they shot just 3-10 (30%) from the field. Cowley was dominating the game only turning the ball over 3 times and shooting 9-19 (47.4%) from the field. The 8 points scored by the Beavers in the first quarter was the lowest scoring quarter for Pratt all season. 

The Beavers were able to shoot better in the second quarter scoring 18 points in the second. Despite this the Tigers also scored 17 points in the quarter. Both teams were trading shots back and forth for the entire quarter as Pratt's offense finally got going. Ballint was able to score 8 points in the second, complemented by Kalani Brock's 6 points. The Beavers offense awoke however the game never got under 10 points. Pratt was able to take care of the ball in the second just turning the ball over twice. Pratt shot 7-15 (46.7%)  as a team in the second quarter much improved shooting splits. Pratt's defense also showed improvement as the Tigers shot 6-17 (35.3%) from the field. 

The Beavers third quarter performance was very similar to the second quarter. The team scored 17 points in the third and was trading shots with Cowley all quarter. Ballint and Brock led the scoring effort the Beavers again. Despite the Beavers efforts to get back into the game the game just never got close in the second half. As a team in the third the Beavers shot a very efficient 8-16 (50%) and also took care of the ball well, turning the ball over just 2 times. Cowley outscored the beavers by three points but shot a much less efficient 7-19 (36.8%). At the end of the third quarter Cowley led Pratt 59-43.

The Beavers entered the fourth quarter fighting hard but the game never became competitive. Pratt scored just 9 points in the fourth quarter compared to Cowley's 11 points. 8 of the Beavers 9 points were scored by Ballint as she put on an impressive fourth quarter performance. Despite being outscored by just four points in the second, third and fourth quarter combined the Beavers would fall to Cowley 70-52 as the hole the Beavers dug for themselves in the first quarter could not be climbed out of. In the fourth quarter the Beavers shot 4-19 (21.1%) their worst shooting quarter of the game. 

The Beavers had a tough shooting night going just 22-60 (36.7%) from the field. The Beavers also struggled with turnovers giving the ball up 23 times 11 of those in the first quarter alone. The Beavers couldn't get anything from beyond the arc to fall shooting just 3-19 (15.8%)  from deep. Cowley shot a slightly more efficient 24-60 (40.0%)

 Player Notes: 

Polla Balint led the beavers in scoring with a dominant 24 points.

Kalani Brock was great all around earning a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds