Johnson County Community College
Press Release

College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Associate Vice President, Marketing Communications, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122

11/2/09
Story by Tyler Cundith

JCCC women's basketball team opens season with a victory

OVERLAND PARK, KS ­ The Johnson County Community College women's basketball team tipped off its 2009-10 campaign on Sunday afternoon, and came away with 28-point win over William Penn JV, 68-40. Fueled by a strong second half, JCCC managed to pull away after only leading by two points at the break.

Freshman guard Taylor Bird of Lawrence, Kan., had an impressive debut to her collegiate career, finishing with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds. She nearly had a triple-double finishing with a team high six assists. Bird hit 7-of-9 shots, and was a perfect 3-of-3 at the line.

Also in double figures for JCCC was freshman Emile Blakeslely of Hutchinson, Kan. She finished with 10 points on 4-of-8 shooting, including 2-of-5 from 3-point range.

Other key efforts were turned in by sophomore Melissa Nelson of Holton, Kan., freshman Liz Smith of Blue Valley Northwest, freshman Kendra Crow of Wichita, Kan., and freshman Whitney Brown of Kansas City, Mo. Nelson finished with nine points, two rebounds and a team high four steals. She was also 5-of-6 at the line. Smith's line consisted of eight points, eight rebounds and two steals. Crow finished with six points and three rebounds, and Brown had six points and three assists.

The Lady Cavaliers hit the road for three games before returning to JCCC Friday, Nov. 20, to host Brown Mackie College. This weekend, JCCC will be playing in the Kansas City Kansas Community College Classic, and will face Penn Valley Community College on Friday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m., then Cottey College on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon. JCCC also travels to Oskaloosa, Iowa for a rematch with William Penn JV on Friday, Nov. 13.

###