WNCC women turn back EWC 70-65

The Western Nebraska Community College women’s basketball team used a 21-0 run in the first half and then held off a furious Eastern Wyoming College second-half rally to register their 22^nd win of the season with a 70-65 victory Tuesday evening at the Verl Petsch Activities Center.

WNCC held a 34-21 lead at intermission as the Lancers made just 3 of 21 3-pointers in the opening half. In the second half, EWC rimmed in 10 3-pointers to come back to take 65-64 lead with 1:46 to play.

The Cougars scored the next six points as the WNCC defense stiffened as Tiffany Moorer and Shelby Campbell converted two free throws a piece, and Stormye Everett hit a bucket with 41 seconds to play to secure the win.

“I think the difference in the first and second half, and we played the same defensively, is that they were 3 of 21 in the first half from the three-point range and in the second half they made the threes. That is the difference,” WNCC coach Dave Harnish said. “They caught fire behind the 3-point line and just started making shots. I think the one good thing we did is every time we get behind in close games is we are able to shot people down in the last two to three minutes.

“I don’t know why we do that all game long. I thought the last three or four of their possessions, we blocked three of their shots and they never did get a good shot up the last minute or two of the game.”

EWC coach Tom Andersen said the team’s shooting in the second half definitely was a spark for the team.

“We shot terrible in the first half. We got some decent looks and some offensive rebounds, but we just couldn’t knock down the shot,” Andersen said. “The second half we got going a little bit, hit a few shots, and that makes a big difference. The kids got excited and we started playing a little better defense. It was a good game right down to the end. I am disappointed in the loss, but I am encouraged by our effort.”

EWC jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead behind a 3-pointer by Danielle Brown. WNCC put the clamps on that run as they went on a 21-0 run over the next 11 minutes as Tiffany Moorer and Yuki Morimoto hit clutch shots.

WNCC also got clutch performances from the bench during the run as Kelli Culver nailed a 3-poitner and then Carolina Alves had an offensive putback for a 24-7 lead. Marque Lunderman stopped the run with two free throws with 5:53 left in the half as WNCC led 34-21 at halftime.

Moorer connected on back-to-back buckets to start the second half. WNCC held a 12-point lead, 46-34, with 11 minutes to play on an Amber Kistler bucket and kept the lead around eight points for most of the second half. WNCC led 58-48 with seven minutes to play on three Campbell free throws.

EWC came back as they went on a 9-0 run as Danielle Brown and April Johnson each canned 3-pointers, cutting the lead to 58-57. Campbell stopped the run with a driving bucket and then Morimoto hit her first bucket of the second half to up the score to 62-57.

Back came EWC as Johnson nailed her fourth trey of the game followed by a 3-pointer by Lunderman to come within one point. EWC then took their first lead since early in the game on two free throws by Johnson before being held scoreless the final 1:46 of the game.

Andersen said that against a tall team like the Cougars, they did live and die by the 3-pointer. EWC shot 29 percent (13 of 45) from beyond the arc. The Lancers made 10 3-pointers in the second half and just two 2-pointers.

WNCC, on the other hand, shot 45 percent from the field for the game and was 18 of 27 from the free throw line. Campbell was 8 of 10 from the charity stripe to lead both teams. The Hemingford graduate finished with 10 points.

The Cougars had three other players in double figures, led by Morimoto with 14 points, Moorer with 13 and Stormye Everett with 12.

EWC also had four players in double figures. Jessica Brown and April Johnson each had 14 points, while Jayda Schilling and Danielle Brown each had 11 points.

The Lancers will next be in action Saturday when they host Otero Junior College at 5:30 p.m. to close out the regular season. WNCC will close out the regular season Sunday against Northeastern Junior College at Cougar Palace. Tip-off for the Cougar women’s game is set for 2 p.m.

WNCC (22-7) 34 36 – 70
EWC (14-15) 31 44 – 65
EASTERN WYOMING
Jayda Schelling 11, Koel Hall 5, Jessica Brown 14, April Johnson 14, Marque Lunderman 7, Danielle Brown 11, Sarah Smith 3.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Amber Kistler 4, Stormye Everett 12, Shelby Campbell 10, Yuki Morimoto 14, Ariane Brown 2, Tiffany Moorer 13, Carolina Alves 2, Thais Pinto 8, Kelli Culver 5.