The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball sophomores remember the Region IX championship game from a year ago when Casper College handed the Cougar women a 64-51 in the title game, ending the Cougar’s four-year reign as the Region IX champions.
Wednesday night, the Cougar women played like a championship team in easily handing Casper an 80-44 defeat. It was WNCC’s 13th straight win, and it gives the Cougars some confidence for the rest of the season.
In fact, WNCC coach Dave Harnish said this is the way his team should be playing every time.
"The big difference was that we finally played a game where we had emotion and intensity. We played at the level that I wished we had played at all year long,” Harnish said. “The first half we were playing too fast and creating our own turnovers by travels and fortunate to be 17 at the half because of solid defense. But, it was nice to see the desire and the intensity level was great tonight. We just have to learn to play within our speed.”
Sophomore Carly Glisan, who chipped in 9 points including some clutch play in the first half, said this win is especially sweet in more ways then one.
"This win is huge because last year we lost to them in the championship game and that was a terrible feeling, and to come back and beat them as bad as we did feels great. The win is really good for our team because it is the first time we played an entire game to our best potential. I am really excited and we can build from that.”
What gave the Cougars the win, though, was a relentless defense and scoring from all sides, including 34 points from the players that came off the bench. Harnish was extremely pleased with that aspect.
“All year long it seems like we had two or three girls that have played well and tonight I thought it was a night where the starters played well and the kids that came off the bench played well and kept the tempo up to where we wanted it. This was a game where we had everybody into the game and working together and everybody doing the little things that need to be done.”
Glisan said this is the way the team should be playing every time they step onto the court.
“When we play as a team, everybody scores, everybody penetrates and everybody has the part in the game. We don’t have two great players, we have a whole bunch.”
Early on, Casper seemed to have the Cougars number once again, racing to a 14-7 lead on back-to-back 3-pointers with 10 minutes left in the opening half. It was at that point that WNCC shifted things into high gear, going on a 30-9 run to grab a 40-23 lead.
The players off the bench started the scoring spree including a 3-pointer by Glisan to cut the deficit to one point, 14-13. Seconds later, Jenna Colwell nailed two free throws to give the Cougars only their second lead of the game. Gilsan came back and scored back-to-back buckets and WNCC would never look back the rest of the night.
Chelsea Lyles led the Cougars with 20 points. The sophomore also had four assists, two steals and was 5 of 7 from the free throw line. Alison Cheney also found the double-digit scoring column with 11 points and four rebounds, while Dana Iverson finished with 10 points, including two 3-pointers.
WNCC shot a blistering 51 percent from the field compared to 32 percent for Casper. The Cougars were also 14 of 21 from the charity stripe, while Casper was 7 of 12.
The T-birds were led in scoring by Josie Stewart with 12 points, including two 3-pointers.
WNCC, 17-3, will have a week off to tune up for a trip to Sterling, Colo., to face Northeastern Junior College. The Plainswomen knocked off Casper over the weekend 44-41 and sport a 15-3 record.
Glisan said they can utilize this win for the rest of the season.
“It feels great to win a game like this. Everyone is excited and everyone is happy,” she said. “We haven’t had a good win like this. For confidence, we know we can play to this level. We know that we can play to this level.”
Casper (11-7) 23 21 – 44
WNCC (17-3) 40 40 – 80
CASPER COLLEGE
Mijana Cejic 2, Emily Elliott 3, Dana Seth 9, Sarah Johnson 5, Cassandra Suffolk 4, Valencia Cottom 2, Josie Stewart 12, Juliana Paunovic 7.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Cheri Palmer 9, Dana Iverson 10, Emma Beddome 4, SeLina Ysac 6, Shaquilah Davis 3, Alison Cheney 11, Tawny Drexler 2, Jenna Colwell 6, Chelsea Lyles 20, Carly Glisan 9.
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