Cougar women topple Northeast Nebraska for 19th win of the season

                The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team used a a strong first half to pick up their 19th win of the season with a 61-48 sub-region win over Northeast Community College Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace.

               The Cougars' who have been struggling losing three of their last four contests, played one of their best contests of the season. WNCC, who led 15-12 early, went on a 13-0 midway through the opening quarter to lead 28-12. WNCC led 33-22 at halftime.

               WNCC coach Dave Harnish was extremely proud of his team with the way they played.

               "I would definitely have to say that this is the best game of the year that we have played," he said. "I thought it was a gutsy effort. We saw things tonight of kids wanting the ball , wanting to post up, making moves, blocking out, getting on the floor, and taking charges. I thought it was very much a team effort tonight and it was our best win of the year. I am certainly very proud of them. I thought we competed hard. We got tired and let them back in it, but we had the toughness to stay with it, knock some shots down and stop the runs."

               Harnish said the first half, especially, was what he wants to see game in and game out.

               "The first 15 minutes of the game I thought we played great," he said. "We got a little tired there before half and let them back in it. That was frustrating because I was hoping we could get up by 20 at half."

               The Cougars were hitting on all cylinders for much of the first half. The 13-0 run was huge as they nine of the points from the free throw line, going 9 of 10. The only two field goals came from a steal and bucket by Kelsey Doddridge ad a bucket by Lisa Durden.

               Northeast made a mini run late, cutting the lead to 30-22, but Durden nailed a 3-pointer with a couple ticks left on the clock for the halftime lead.

               The Hawks clawed themselves back into the contest in the second half, scoring the first five points of the half and later cut the lead to just two points, 46-44, as they went on a 13-0 run with 4:20 to play.

               WNCC stopped that run by playing tough defense, outscoring Northeast 15-4 the rest of the way. Leona Garrett came up big down the stretch with four points and Samantha Sanders sliced and diced her way to nine of her game-high 18 points down the stretch.

               The Cougars won the contest because of their shooting, where they hit for 44 percent from the field. WNCC also sizzled from the line, shooting 72 percent (21-of-29). Northeast also sizzled from the charity stripe, connecting on 17 of 19 shots, but only shot 21 percent from the field and converted just 3 of 13 long range shots.

               WNCC had three players finish in double figures. Sanders led all scorers with 18 points, including going 7 of 10 from the line and dishing out five assists.

               Also collecting double digits in scoring was Garrett with 13 points and 6 of 9 free throw shooting, and Durden with 10 points and two 3-pointers.

               Northwest was led by Erica Long with 13 points followed by Sasha Carter with 10 points.

               WNCC, 19-7, will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Torrington, Wyo., to face Eastern Wyoming College in a sub-region contest. That game was originally slated for Tuesday, but was changed because of the Torrington and Scottsbluff boys high school game.

Northeast Nebraska        22 26 -- 48

WNCC (19-7)                     33 28 -- 61

NORTHEAST NEBRASKA

Akwar Abula 2, Lynae Richardson 2, Sasha Carter 10, Allyssa Weatherd 8, Erica Long 13, Lynn Eggerling 2, Therese LInquist 2.

WNCC

Samantha Sanders 18, Leona Garrett 13, Lisa Durden 10, ChaCha Ofoegbu 6, Kelsey Doddridge 6, Jessica Aratani 8.