NORFOLK – The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team went to overtime for a second straight contest. But, unlike Wednesday’s contest with Casper College in which the Cougars lost 87-85, this time the Cougars earned a come-from-behind 93-89 win over Northeast Community College Saturday afternoon. The win also set a new school record for combined points between the two teams of 183 points. The previous record of 181 was set back in the 1982-83 season when Otero topped the Cougars 101-80.
Saturday’s contest saw plenty of offense and very little defense. Stormye Everett paced the Cougars with 31 points, including two 3-pointers. Yuki Morimoto added 21 points and three 3-pointers, and Amber Kistler finished with 14 second half points, including three 3-pointers.
Northeast was led by Sofia Lundberg with 35 points, including eight 3-pointers followed by Dawn Bonnell with 29 points.
While defense was practically non-existent, it was a big block by Everette in the overtime period of a Bonnell 3-pointer that helped the Cougars capture their first sub-region win of the year. After Everett’s block, Kistler sealed the deal converting 1 of 2 free throws with 3.9 seconds to play.
“This was a big win because it helped us redeem us from the loss we had against Casper,” Everett said. “This win helps us in knowing what it takes to get back in the game. Once we started getting back in the game, we stayed calm and mellow and didn’t rush things because once we start playing our game it works out better. The last two games we have just been rushing things, not going through our offense. When we slow it down and run through our offense, things work out better for us and able to come back.”
Early on it didn’t look to pleasing for the Cougars as Northwest went on a 14-3 run to finish the first half to take a 47-36 halftime lead. The Hawks kept the Cougars at bay for much of the second half, holding an 80-70 lead with 5 minutes to play.
WNCC never did lose confidence in coming back, and they kept their composure and made the comeback.
“We weren’t losing by that much; we were only down by eight with a minute and 12 seconds left,” Everett said. “We came back, took the right shots and got open looks because we still had time to come back to tie the game. Since we had the momentum, we then could beat them in overtime.”
That was when the Cougars started to make a comeback as Kistler and Morimoto connected on back-to-back treys to sliced the lead to 83-78. Northeast’s Bonnell converted two free throws to push the Hawks back to 85-80.
WNCC went on a 5-0 run in the final 90 seconds as Everett had two buckets and Kistler nailed a 3-pointer. Everett tied the contest with 38.5 seconds.
In the extra period, Tiffany Moorer gave the Cougars their first lead since midway in the first half. The Cougars pushed the lead to six points, 91-85 and held on for the win.
Everett said it was a tough game, a game that prepared them for the rest of the year.
“I think we will be more ready to go Wednesday because this game helped us prepare for that game,” she said. “We know we can play our game first and second half because we won’t be able to play one half against Sterling. That will not work.”
The Cougars finished the contest with just 13 turnovers, a much improvement over Wednesday night when the team had 31 points in the loss to Casper College.
WNCC, 16-3, will be back on the road Wednesday night when they face Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo. The Cougars will then return home for a contest on Saturday against Otero Junior College.
WNCC (16-3) 36 49 8 – 93
NE Nebraska (14-6) 47 38 4 – 89
NORTHEAST NEBRASKA
Sofia Lundberg 35, Dawn Bonnell 29, Shelby Hunger 10, CHrissi Fischer 6, Stephanie Paulson 6, Carolyn Taite 2, Kanisha Williams 1.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Amber Kistler 14, Stormye Everett 31, Tiffany Moorer 7, Yuki Morimoto Khayla Gladney 6, Michelle Glaze 6, Ariana Brown 6, Thais Pinto 2.
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