NEOSHO, Mo. — The Lady Raiders are tired of being on the road, and they're tired of losing. Three Rivers lost at Crowder 91-73 on Saturday in the last of six straight weeks of road games. "Now everybody has to come to us," Three Rivers coach Jeff Walk said. "We are definitely road tested." Three Rivers (13-8, 1-3 Region XVI) made several runs against Crowder (14-6, 1-1) but never quite came all the way back. The Lady Raiders were down five going into the fourth quarter and Crowder soon doubled the lead. Walk had his team start fouling with about five minutes left to try to extend the game, but instead Crowder was nearly perfect at the foul line and blew the game open. "I don't think they missed one (free throw) the last three minutes," Walk said. Coley Ickes was 8 for 9 at the free-throw line in the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points. "She ended up with the ball in her hands. That is what they are going to do to you," Walk said. Crowder was 19 for 26 on free throws in the fourth and 30 for 46 overall. The Lady Raiders scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, 19 on free throws and 14 on fi eld goals.

Tori Coulter made five 3-pointers and led Crowder with 19 points. She was the only Crowder player to score a point while not attempting a free throw. "We had our opportunities early in the fourth; we just didn't capitalize on it," Walk said. "We're just going to have to get better defensively down the stretch." Three Rivers had four players in double figures in a balanced scoring night. Hailee Erickson led the team with 13 points after making four 3-pointers. Sydni Williams and Alex Kohler both had 12 and DeNayia Holmes got 11. Three Rivers has nine games left in the regular season, seven of them at home. Their lone remaining road games are Tuesday at Dyersburg (Tennessee) State and Feb. 10 at Jefferson. The Raiders have not played at the Bess Activity Center since Dec. 5, when it beat John A. Logan 73-72. "They are ready to play a home game, as we all are," Walk said. During the extended road trip, Three Rivers was 2-6, including 1-3 in the region. Three Rivers is 7-1 at home. Its lone loss was by fi ve points to No. 9 Wabash Valley.

Scott Borkgren - Daily American Republic