CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team put four players in double figures in registering an 83-57 win over Laramie County Community College in a Region IX South sub-region contest Saturday afternoon in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
The win was the Cougars fourth straight and 16th overall to just four losses. WNCC sits on top of the South standings with a 6-1 mark.
Interim head coach Chad Gibney said his team played really well as a team.
"The women did an excellent job of just competing today," Gibney said. "They came out, played hard and played smart. They played tough and really, from start to finish, gave us a tremendous effort and executed."
The Cougars did play well in getting their fourth straight win while putting four in double figures.
"It was a team effort in every sense of the word," Gibney said. "We had all 13 players play tonight and every single one contributed in a major fashion. There is no better way to put it than a team victory."
WNCC was led in scoring by Kellie Gaston with 13 points, including knocking home three 3-pointers. Sladjana Rakovic followed with 12 points while Jaleesa Avery had 11 points. Olivia Wiberg also got the hot hand, pouring in 10 points, including two treys.
WNCC also received nine points each from Zeynep Canbaz and Bree Paulson and then seven points from Kristin Gaston.
What won the game for the Cougars was their defense, where they registered 17 steals and forced LCCC into 34 turnovers. Canbaz finished with six steals followed by Anastacia Johnson with three. Canbaz also added eight assists on the night.
"On the defensive end we were much better tonight," Gibney said. "We really pressured throughout the game. We mixed up our different press coverages and it gave them problems, which lead to some easy baskets."
The first quarter was somewhat close as WNCC ran out to an 18-13 lead. The Golden Eagles did hold a 4-3 lead early but WNCC came back with a 6-0 run on back-to-back steals and buckets by Canbaz.
The second quarter saw the Cougars outscore the Golden Eagles 21-11 to take a 39-24 lead into the lockerroom. Wiberg had the hot hand in that period, nailing back-to-back 3-pointers.
WNCC opened up the game in the third period. Leading by 11, 45-34, the Cougars on a 15-0 run to lead 50-34 behind five points from Kellie Gaston to lead 59-38 after three.
WNCC, 16-4, will be back in action next week when they have three straight road contests. WNCC will face Adams State College junior varsity on Thursday before taking on Trinidad State Friday and Otero on Saturday in South Sub-region contests.
LCCC (7-10) 13 11 14 19 – 57
WNCC (16-4) 18 21 20 14 – 83
LCCC
Mariah Sheets 6, Kate Fiscus 6, Katelyn Smith 9, Darian Hale 11, Randi Elisson 9, Morgan Dana 6, Madison Hamm 6, Caylin Arnold 4.
WNCC
Melisa Kadic 2, Sladjana Rakovic 12, Kristin Gaston 7, Jaleesa Avery 11, Sophie Agorakis 2, Olivia Wiberg 10, Kellie Gaston 13, Zeynep Canbaz 9, Bree Paulson 9, Anastacia Johnson 2, Jocelyn Montecinos 2, Giovanna Silva 4.