Chargers Drop Road Contest to UKC, 77–63
The Crandall Chargers opened strong but couldn't sustain their early momentum, falling 77–63 to UKC on Sunday afternoon at the Kingdome.
Crandall controlled the first quarter and carried a narrow lead into halftime, but a second-half surge from UKC proved decisive as the home side outscored the Chargers 42–26 over the final two quarters.
Fast Start for Crandall
The Chargers set the tone early, jumping out to a 25–9 lead after the opening quarter. Crandall shot an efficient 46% in the first frame while limiting UKC to just 13% from the field.
Kelsey Alward led the charge early, attacking the glass and finishing around the rim. The Chargers' defensive pressure forced difficult looks and helped build a double-digit cushion.
UKC responded in the second quarter, trimming the lead behind improved perimeter shooting. Despite the push, Crandall entered halftime ahead 37–35.
Third Quarter Swing
Momentum shifted coming out of the break. After Alward opened the half with a three-pointer to extend the lead to five, UKC steadily chipped away. A late 8–0 run to close the third quarter gave the home team a 51–48 advantage heading into the fourth.
Turnovers and second-chance opportunities proved costly during that stretch, as UKC capitalized on extra possessions and converted key perimeter shots.
Late Run Seals It
The game remained within reach early in the fourth quarter, but UKC's outside shooting created separation. Kai Raphael finished with a game-high 23 points, knocking down five three-pointers and scoring in key moments down the stretch.
Zoe Mombourquette added 14 points off the bench, while Grace Dorion contributed 15 for UKC.
For Crandall, Alward delivered a standout performance with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Kaley Axworthy added 11 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double, while Charity Hearn chipped in nine points.
Despite outrebounding UKC 42–44 and scoring 28 points in the paint, the Chargers were undone by 26 turnovers and UKC's 32 bench points. UKC also converted 21 points off turnovers, which helped swing momentum in the second half.