Fourth-quarter woes haunt Garden City on the road

Dodge City, KS-Far too often this season, Garden City's performance in the fourth quarter has left plenty to be desired.  

Wednesday was no exception. 

Becca Unruh finished with 18 points off the bench, Tayah Morgan knocked down four 3-pointers, and fourth-ranked Dodge City held off the Broncbusters, 65-58 at the Student Activity Center.  

Bruna Costa Da Silva had 15 points, four assists, and three steals for Garden City, which fell to 9-9 overall and 6-7 in conference. Jolie Mantz added 12, and Priscilla Rose Wemba tallied 11 points and seven boards.  

After trailing by as many as nine in the first half, the Broncbusters weathered the storm, pulling to within five at the break. In the third, Rose Wemba nailed a rare 3-pointer; then hit a pair of free throws, Antonicia Moultrie knocked down a shot in the paint, and Rose Wemba banked home a five-footer, giving Garden City their largest lead, 40-36 with 5:57 to go in the quarter.  

But the Broncbuster offense stalled out. Dodge City rallied back to tie the game at 45 going to the fourth. Layla J-Cameron and Unruh easily got to the rim for 2, Unruh then splashed a 3-pointer, and the Conquistadors used a 24-9 run to build a 60-49 advantage with 3:57 remaining.  

Garden City though gave themselves a chance down the stretch. Costa Da Silva and Jolie Mantz combined to make three consecutive 3-pointers to pull the visitors to within two. But Costa Da Silva committed a costly foul on the other end, Konstantina Mantziori hit two free throws, and the Broncbusters failed to secure a loose ball in the waning seconds that led to Unruh's charity shots that iced the game.   

The Broncbusters turned the ball over 23 that led to 21 Dodge City points, and their bench was outscored, 25-10.