ARKANSAS CITY, Kansas — The formula that has worked so well for the Cloud County Community College women's basketball team, and the formula that has caused the T-Birds issues this winter, were each displayed in Wednesday's 74-67 road loss to Cowley College.

For 20 minutes, Cloud County (18-8 overall, 15-8 KJCCC) dominated both ends of the floor. The T-birds shot at a 48 percent clip, limited their turnovers to 10, and played suffocating defense to build a 36-26 halftime lead over Cowley (22-6 overall, 18-6 KJCCC).

Sophomore guard Kelsi Mueller scored nine of her game-high 20 points in the first half. And after the break, she promptly opened the second half with one of her four 3-pointers on the evening  to give Cloud County a 39-26 lead just seconds into the third quarter.

Unfortunately for the T-Birds, the script flipped at that moment. Cowley ignited for a 30-point third quarter to erase the 13-point deficit and build a 56-47 lead of its own heading into the fourth quarter.

Turnovers keyed the comeback for Cowley as Cloud County committed 17 turnovers in the half, the majority during the third quarter as the Tigers ratcheted up the intensity of their full-court, trapping defense.

Cowley shot 58 percent (19-of-33) in the second half and scored 21 of their 48 second-half points off turnovers.

Cloud County was able to regain its footing to stop the run in the fourth quarter, and inched within five with 55 seconds remaining on a layup by sophomore Courtney Hammel. But time ran out on the T-Birds before they could complete the comeback.

The loss snapped Cloud County's five-game winning streak; the third five-game winning streak the T-Birds have produced this season.

Freshman forward Scout Frame joined Mueller in double-figures with 12 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore forward Kennedy Gay and freshman guard Carrie Davis each added nine points.

Courtney Keech was solid again at the off-guard spot, finishing with six points, nine rebounds and three assists.

Cloud County, which sits tied for sixth in the KJCCC standings with Garden City, will look to bounce back Saturday in its regular season home finale against Allen County Community College. The T-Birds defeated the Red Devils, 93-74, in their first meeting back on Jan. 10 behind a 40-point performance by Frame.

Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. inside Arley Bryant Gymnasium.