The Collinsville Lady Kahoks could not overcome a shaky start in the third place game of the Nashville Tournament Saturday, losing to Mascoutah 48-39.

Head Coach Lori Billy / Photo by Roger Starkey

After scoring five points in the first quarter of their game against Nashville Friday, Collinsville (2-2) managed only eight against Mascoutah (3-1) Saturday. Head Coach Lori Billy said the team was timid in the opening half Saturday.

“I think they just got kind of overwhelmed, maybe, by some of the pressure that they saw,” Billy said. “They (Mascoutah) were very, very aggressive.”

The pressure and the inability for the Lady Kahoks to get the ball where they wanted caused forced shots and turnovers. Collinsville scored six points in the second quarter and trailed the Indians 22-14 at the half.

The Lady Kahoks righted themselves on offense in the second half by attacking the basket. After going 0-2 on first-half free throw attempts, Collinsville connected on 13 of 20 in the second.

An eight-point halftime deficit was cut to three before Collinsville lost their way defensively, Billy said. Senior guard Brittney Zipfel led the Indians with 15 points, after scoring only two in the first half.

First-team all-tournament selection Julie Scheiter defended Zipfel and held her to only two baskets from the field. However, Zipfel knocked down 8 of 10 second-half free throw attempts.

Sophomore forward Gabby Morgan was the only Collinsville player in double figures. Morgan scored all 12 of her points in the second half.

Sophomore forward Kassidy Smith scored eight on the strength of a 6-6 night from the charity stripe. Junior forward Samantha Buettner scored six, Scheiter, a sophomore guard, pitched in five points. Sophomore guard Caitlyn Brombolich contributed four points. Freshmen guards Andrea Frerker and Kaitlyn Fischer scored two points each.

After playing three games in two days, Collinsville next plays Thursday at 7:30 p.m. against Edwardsville at Fletcher Gym.