Shooting struggles cost Grizzlies in 67-54 loss to Garden City (Kan.) CC

ASC hit just 19-of-68 shots from the field and struggled at the free throw line

ALAMOSA , Colo.  - The Adams State JV women and Garden City (Kan.) CC combined to shoot just 34.6 percent (47-of-136) on Sunday afternoon and commit 44 turnovers, but a strong defensive effort on the inside from the Broncos resulted in a 67-54 Grizzly defeat at Plachy Hall.

The Grizzlies fall to 0- 5 on the season with the loss while Garden City improves its record to 9-3.

In action for the first time since Nov. 22, the Grizzlies grabbed an early lead when an off balacnce, shot-clock beating 3-pointer by junior Tay Merriman (Inglewood, Calif.) was banked in on ASC's second possession.

Merriman also grabbed a pair of her game-high 12 rebounds during that possession, and finished the game with nine points, coming up just one point shy of her third consecutive double-double.

But a pair of layups from O'Neal Session and Marisela Rodriguez gave the Broncos a 4-3 lead with 16 minutes, 51 seconds left in the half and Grizzlies would trail the rest of the way.

The Broncos led by as many as 11 points during the opening half, but a7-0 Adams State run over the final 5:37 brought the score to 20-16 in favor of the visitors at the break despite a dismal 16.7 percent (6-36) effort from the field for ASC.

The second half saw the Broncos getting the ball to the inside often. Garden City scored 24 of its 36 points in the paint over the final 20 minutes. Rodriguez, who towered over Grizzly defenders at 6 feet, 4 inches tall, scored nine of her 15 points in the second half.

Boyer got off to a slow start in the game, but came alive to the tune of 10 points in the second half, as did Smith who tallied 11 of her 13 points down the stretch.
The Broncos height proved an advantage on both halves of the floor. In addition to outscoring the Grizzlies by 12 points in the paint and outrebounding ASC 52-46, Garden City recorded nine blocks in the game.

But even when getting off clean shots, Adams State still struggled to floor. The Grizzlies were just 2-of-16 from 3-point range (12.5 percent) for the game and 14-of-25 from the free throw line (56.0 percent), showing improvement following the break after hitting just three free throws in nine attempts (33.3 percent) in the first half.

Also leading the Broncos second-half surge was guard Ashley Walker who scored all of her game-high 17 points after the break.

The Grizzlies will be back in action in Plachy Hall on Saturday, Dec. 11, still in search of their first JV win against Lamar Community College at 1 p.m. Fans who can't make the trip to Plachy Hall can follow the action on the web via live stats by clicking here.

Visit ascgrizzlies.com for the latest news and info on Adams State College Athletics.