The 10th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team outscored Sheridan College 29-14 in the fourth quarter to earn their 10th win of the season with a 66-53 over Sheridan College Tuesday night at Cougar Palace.
The Cougars moved to 10-1 on the season while winning their eighth straight.
The contest, though, wasn't easy as the Cougars took their first lead of the contest with under five minutes to play in the fourth quarter for the win.
WNCC didn't play like a 10th-ranked team in the first three quarters. The fourth quarter was a different story.
"Our team wasn't hitting shots but we managed to get a lot of turnovers," Georgia Berry, who finished the game with six points and five rebounds, said. "When we bring energy, we have every opportunity to be a great team."
When teams are struggling but find a way to win; that is a mark of a good ball club. WNCC found a way to get the win.
"Our first three quarters were terrible," Berry said. "We didn't come ready to play and hit shots in the first quarter. In the fourth, we played hard and got multiple turnovers which lead to fast breaks and pushed us up around 15 points. We started hitting shots and the energy boosted."
The first half wasn't good shooting for both teams. WNCC only scored eight points in the first quarter as Sheridan led 20-8 after one period. The second quarter, the role refused as the Cougar defense held Sheridan to just four points. WNCC didn't find a lot of offense in the second but did outscore Sheridan 12-4 to trail at the break 24-20.
WNCC shot just 20 percent in the first half while Sheridan shot 19 percent. WNCC didn't make one 3-pointer in the first half while Sheridan had two. Free throw shooting wasn't going the Cougars way either as WNCC was 6 of 12 for 50 percent.
The second half was a different story. WNCC shot 41 percent and were 91 percent from the charity stripe (11 of 12) in the second half.
WNCC tied the game for the first time in the third period on a Taylor Joplin 3-pointer with 56 seconds to play. Sheridan, however, scored another bucket to lead 39-37 after three periods.
The fourth quarter saw Sheridan grab a 49-43 lead with about six minutes to play. That was when the Cougar energy picked up, going on a 21-0 run to grab a 62-49 lead. Yuliana Valcheva started the run with a bucket and then Lidsey Mahoukou gave the Cougars their first lead with under five minutes to play at 51-49.
Sheridan finally broke the scoring ice with a bucket with 1:26 to play but it wasn't enough.
WNCC had two players in double figures. Mahoukou had 15 points with four rebounds, while Morehouse tallied 14 points with five rebounds. Morehouse also had three steals along with R'Manie Pulling.
Sheridan won the rebounding battle 55-46. Valcheva led the Cougars with seven boards.
WNCC, 10-1, will be back in action this weekend when they go to Riverton, Wyoming, for a pair of games. WNCC will play Utah State-Eastern on Friday and then Central Wyoming on Saturday. Utah State-Eastern is 10-1 on the season. That game can be heard on KOZY 101.3 FM with Chuck Schwartz with the call.
Sheridan 20 4 15 14 – 53
WNCC (10-1) 8 12 17 29 – 66
WNCC
Tishara Morehouse 14, Yuliyana Valcheva 7, Zarrea Coleman 3, Georgia Berry 6, Dezmonea Antwine 6, R'Manie Pulling 6, Maddy Campbell 2, Taylor Joplin 7, Lidsey Mahoukou 15.
SHERIDAN
Alexandra Trosper 11, Julia Bartlett 6, Darcy Walker 3, Maddison Roush 16, Cynthia Green 5, Shelby Tarter 7, Sara Oca 5.