Lady Conquistadors’ historic season ends vs. New Mexico

Lubbock, TX (WesternKansasNews.com) – Two basketball styles were set to clash on Wednesday in the Rip Griffin Center. Dodge City’s fast-paced offense led the Jayhawk Conference in scoring and New Mexico’s 6th-ranked defense in NJCAA Basketball. Unfortunately for the Conquistadors defense would prove true and hold them to just 38 points in their season-ending 48-38 loss to New Mexico.

The game marked the first-ever NJCAA tournament appearance for Dodge City who finished the season with a (29-4) record and a (23-1) conference record both of which were program records. The offense could just not find its footing for a team that averages 77 points per game and was held to nearly half that against New Mexico. 

A lot of that was forced by the 19 Dodge City turnovers and losing effort on the rebounding battle 52-37 including an 18-7 disadvantage on the offensive glass. New Mexico was able to pace the game to their tempo for the majority of the matchup save for a small run to start the 2nd half that saw the Conquistadors jump out to a four-point lead of 27-23 with 4:58 left in the 3rd quarter. The lead was taken away just one minute later after New Mexico’s Sandra Magolico scored to give the Thunderbirds a 28-27 lead that they wouldn’t give back the rest of the game.

Dodge City as a team shot 30% (16-53) well below their season average of 43% the Conquistadors were also pushed off the 3-point line and only connected on 4 total threes (4-24) half of their season average of 8 per game. 

Dodge City had just one double-digit scorer as Leah Mafua scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting. New Mexico was led by Sandra Magolico’s 18 points and 14 rebounds and Clemson commit Danna Grenald’s 14 points and 16 rebounds.