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To say that the Hesston College women’s basketball team is playing good basketball these days would be an understatement, plain and simple. The Larks’ latest win, a 69-40 road victory versus Tabor College JV on Tuesday, Jan. 24, put Hesston at the .500 mark at 10-10.

The season didn’t necessarily get off to a glowing start, as coach Dan Harrison’s team dropped seven of its first eight and was staring at a 1-7 record as Thanksgiving arrived. However, the last two months, the Larks have made up for lost time.

The turnaround started during the Larks’ annual two-day Thanksgiving Classic with a hard-fought 55-51 win over NJCAA Div. I Barton Community College. The following night, Hesston feasted on the Bethel College JV defense, cruising by the Threshers for an 85-70 win. Suddenly, the Larks had some life. After dispatching Allen Community College, another Div. I program, by a 59-51 count on Dec. 3, Hesston was beginning to hit its stride.

The Larks’ success has been aided by their recent good health. Rachel Miller (Hutchinson, Kan.), a key freshman recruit from Haven (Kan.) High, didn’t see her first action of the season until the Barton game. Since then, the scrappy guard has averaged more than 26 minutes per game during Hesston’s 9-3 stretch. Destavia Davis (Nacogdoches, Texas), another freshman point guard, missed time early in the season. Mallory Schroeder (Newton, Kan.), an all-region guard last season, didn’t see her first action until January due to a knee injury. In the last four games, Schroeder has averaged more than 12 points per game.

“Successful teams have outstanding guards,” Harrison said. “We have two great point guards with Rachel and Destavia but we struggled when we couldn’t get them on the floor. Now that both are back, our offense is flowing and our defense is more aggressive and intense. Mallory gives us another sophomore leader in the mix and another perimeter shooter.”

With six of Hesston’s remaining 10 games slated for the friendly confines of Yost Center, Hesston will look to build momentum as the Larks head towards the NJCAA Region VI post season. Hesston hosts Brown Mackie College in a key Region VI game at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.