Broncbusters fourth-quarter push falls short in Dodge City

Dodge City, KS-This one was there for the taking. 

Paris Santacaterina scored 17 points, Mia Jordan had 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks, and Dodge City outlasted Garden City, 85-77 Wednesday night at the Student Activity Center.  

Sierra Driessen scored 13 of her team-best 23 points in the fourth quarter for Garden City (10-6, 5-6), which trimmed a 16-point deficit down to five in the final period. Stevi Yancy added 16, and Antonicia Moultire grabbed 12 rebounds. 

Greg Franklin is not into moral victories, but after his squad hung with No. 13 Dodge City after taking plenty of body blows for 40 minutes, it showed the veteran coach plenty. 

The Conquistadors, which improved to 16-2 overall and 10-2 in league play, built a 16-point cushion after Shorna Preston drilled a midrange jumper to make it 57-41 with 3:12 remaining in the third.  

But Garden City managed to stay in the game. Carly Lang made back-to-back layups, Driessen buried a 10-foot jumper; then drilled a 3, and the Broncbusters were within seven at the end of three.  

Driessen kept it going in the fourth, scoring the first six Garden City points, Maya Nieto buried a triple from the wing, and the visitors were within six. 

But Dodge City answered with seven straight points, Driessen and Stevi Yancy committed back-to-back turnovers, and Dodge City pushed the lead back to 13, 77-64 with 1:12 to go.  

All five Conquistador starters scored in double figures including Shorna Preston, who finished with 16 on 8-of-10 shooting. Layla Cameron added 10 points, and Kyriana Jones netted 15 off the bench.