OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – After a slow start, the No. 3-raned Johnson County women's basketball team went on a furious tear to dispatch Highland 86-40 on Wednesday night at JCCC Gymnasium. The 46-point victory over the Scotties ties the third-largest margin in the series history. With the win, the Lady Cavaliers remain unbeaten at 13-0, improve to 4-0 in conference play and head coach Ben Conrad is now 23-9 against Highland.
Johnson County led 14-8 after the first period, then started the second period on a 12-2 run that led to a 26-8 quarter and a 40-16 halftime lead. JCCC held Highland to single digits in three of the four quarters, and to just 22.6 percent shooting, and 16 percent from 3-point range. The Lady Cavaliers hit 45 percent from the field, and 41 percent behind the 3-point line.
JCCC sophomore guard Jaylen Townsend led all scorers with a season-high 21 points, and just one shy of her career record. She was 8-of-15 from the field, 3-of-7 beyond the arc and 2-of-2 at the free throw line. It was her eighth straight game in double figures, and 11th time on the season.
Sophomore forward LaJahda Boyland posted her second double-double of the season, and eighth of her career, finishing with 10 points and 15 boards.
Sophomore guard Pressley Barton knocked down three treys and finished 11 points. She now has 49 made 3-pointers on the season which leads the conference and ranks second in NJCAA Division II, one shy of Tadriana Heard of Morton. She also leads the conference and ranks seventh in the country in 3-point accuracy at 54 percent.
Freshman guard Kierra Prim came in off the bench to provide 11 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes of court time. She was 5-of-6 shooting and made her one free throw attempt. She also contributed a block and a steal.
Highland was led by Sariah Serrano with 11 points, followed by Marina Paes with 10.
Johnson County's next game was to be a showdown against No. 2 and undefeated Labette on Saturday, but that game has been postponed. The Cavaliers will now next play on the road Wednesday, March 17 against No. 5-ranked Kansas City Kansas (12-1, 2-1). The Blue Devils only loss this season was to JCCC on February 27, 65-53.