WNCC fall to NJC

               STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College went through a cold shooting spell in dropping a sub-region contest to Northeastern Junior College 65-47.

               It was the Cougars third straight loss and dropped the Cougars to 4-2 in the sub-region while NJC went to 4-1 in the sub-region. More importantly, though, the Cougars suffered two more injuries as guards Idil Ozbayrak and Samantha Sanders both went down with injuries in the second half. Ozbayrak’s injury is more several and details on her knee injury are unknown until she sees a doctor.

               WNCC coach Dave Harnish said this was a matter that this team couldn’t shoot or rebound and he said if you can’t do that, you are not going to win games. Shooting was definitely the difference in the contest as WNCC was 2 of 12 from the 3-point line in the first half and just 1 of 8 in the second half. The team shot 30 percent from the field for the game.

               WNCC started the contest pretty strong, hanging with the Plainswomen. NJC vaulted to an 8-2 and 14-7 lead but each time WNCC fought back, cutting the lead to 14-12 the last time as Lisa Durden hit a 3-pointer and Jessica Aratani had a bucket.

               NJC came right back, going on a 14-0 run to go up 28-12 on two 3-pointers by Brooke Baker. WNCC kept fighting, though, as they cut the lead to 29-22 on two buckets by Leona Garrett before trailing 39-26 at halftime.

               The second half saw the Cougars shot just 29 percent. They did, however,, play strong defense holding NJC to just 25 shooting. The difference in the game was rebounding as the Plainswomen outrebounded the Cougars 67-33 including 32 offensive rebounds.

               WNCC was led by Samantha Sanders with nine points and Leona Garrett with eight points.

               NJC made six 3-pointers in the contest as Alicia Nichols finished with three 3-pointers and 15 points.

               WNCC will be back in action Saturday when they travel to Lamar Community College for another sub-region contest.

WNCC                  26 21 — 47
NJC                       39 26 — 65
WNCC
Samantha Sanders 9, Kelsey Doddridge 4, Leona Garrett 8, Lisa Durden 5, ChaCha Ofoegbu 7, Jessica Aratani 8, Idil Ozbayrak 8.
NJC
Beth Cooper 2, Adaugo Osuala 6, Ayana Smith 8, Lexi Lopez 3 , Ashley North 4, Karala Orona 2, Alicia Nichols 15, Brooke Baker 7, Hannah Pollert 8, Ngone Ndiaye 10.