WNCC women capture 25th win over Central Wyoming

                The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball held Central Wyoming College to 28 percent shooting in remaining unbeaten at Cougar Palace with a 72-48 win Sunday afternoon at Cougar Palace.

               Sunday's win was a classic Cougar defensive contest where the Cougars excelled on defense, forcing 19 Rustler turnovers and out-rebounding the Riverton, Wyo., school 49-24. The win was the Cougars 25th on the year and made them 13-0 at Cougar Palace.

               "I think we played hard and we didn't give up from beginning to end," freshman Darachia Johnson, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds, said. "We played a lot of hard defense and we didn't foul that much."

               Playing under control was definitely a key, compared to Saturday's game with Otero, where the Cougars committed 26 fouls and sent the Rattlers to the free throw line 27 times. Sunday, WNCC committed just 13 fouls and sending CWC to the line 17 times. The Cougars also shot 72 percent from the free throw line, connecting on 13 of 18 of their free throws.

               Free throws, however, wasn't a key part of the game for the Cougars; it was their defense. And, when a team can hold their opponent to 27 percent shooting, 22 percent in the second half, something must be going right. Sunday afternoon, everything was going WNCC's way.

               "Offensive comes after defense," she said. "After we get that excitement of blocking a girls' shot, getting a shot clock violation, or denying them, then the excitement of offense comes."

               Most of the Cougars offense came from the bench, where they combined for 49 of the 72 points. A big share of that came from 6-foot-7 Thais Pinto, who finished with a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. Johnson added 12 points off the bench, while Lisa Durden had seven points and Kyra Peterson six points from the bench.

               Johnson said it was good see good contributions from the bench, especially when starting point guard Samantha Sanders went out with an ankle injury midway in the first half.

               "With the situation when Sam got hurt, that is when we need the bench," Johnson said. "Everybody on the bench needs to be prepared because the bench is just as important as the starters."

               Early on, both teams were battling neck and neck. Central Wyoming never led in the contest, but were tied early on twice; the last time at 13-13. It was at that time when the Cougars asserted themselves in the game offensively and defensively, going on a 13-0 that pushed the lead to 26--13.

               Pinto and Durden were the key recipients behind the scoring run. Pinto had six points, while Durden had five points, including a 3-pointer. Central Wyoming managed to cut the lead to single digits one before half, but Pinto was too dominating inside as her height and long arms reigned supreme in the post as the Cougars took a 43-27 lead into the locker room. Pinto had 15 points in the first half on 70 percent shooting.

               The second half was all WNCC as they opened up the half on a 8-2 run for a 51-30 lead. Later, Johnson had back-to-back 3-point plays, including one 3-pointer from beyond the arc for a 61-32 lead. WNCC cruised from there for their 25th win of the season.

               WNCC, 25-3, will have two regular season contests left. The Cougars travel to McCook Community College on Tuesday in a key sub-region contest. They will then return home for a contest with Northeastern Junior College on Saturday in an afternoon contest with a 12 noon tip-off.

               Johnson said they are not taking the final two games lightly as they prepare for the regional tournament, which begins March 4 in Casper, Wyo.

               "We need to practice hard, work on our weaknesses which is free throws, lay ups and fouling," she said. "We have our mind set to win. it is not going to be easy and they are not going to give it to us, so we will have to play hard and work at it."

Central Wyoming (13-13)               27 21 -- 48

WNCC (25-3)                                    43 29 -- 72

CENTRAL WYOMING

Jaci Egley 2, Brynn Foster 3, Amanda Larsen 9, Brynlie Nielsen 3, Randi Prossnick 3, Courtney Patterson 9, Liza Lonigro 3, Jacki Nicholson 5, Dani Brinkerhoff 2.

WESTERN NEBRASKA

Ashley Soucie 3, Shelby Campbell 4, DeNae Quijas 2, Tiffany Moorer 4, Lisa Durden 7, Kyra Peterson 6, ChaCha Ofoegbu 6, Darachia Johnson 12, Thais Pinto 19, Carolina Alves 9.