The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team received 22 points from Melisa Kadic as the Cougar women rolled over Otero Junior College 79-39 Saturday in a Region IX South Sub-region contest Saturday at Cougar Palace.
The win was the Cougar women's 10th straight, moving the team to 13-0 in conference and 25-3 overall.
The Otero game was also the final regular season home contest for the Cougars and the seven sophomores were recognized before the game. Jaleesa Avery, who had a near double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds, had special reason to play after getting a surprise visit from her mom, who drove up from Kansas City to watch her play.
Avery said that was a special moment, but playing two years at WNCC has been special as well.
"I didn't expect my mom at all so I started crying. Seeing her made me so happy," she said. "It was definitely emotional. It has been a very special ride, journey. I am happy I got to play my last [regular season home] game with them. It is like a team that I will never forget."
The game itself showed how strong the Cougars are on defense. WNCC had about four 30-second shot clock violations as well as a five-second violation. The Cougar defense held Otero to under or near single digits in all four quarters.
Avery said the defense is something that they pride themselves on.
"Every day we talk about that if we play good defense, that our offense will come naturally," Avery said. "So, we try to do that every night so that our offense will naturally come."
Offensively, it wasn't the best showing for the Cougars. WNCC finished the game with shooting 40 percent from the field but were just 4 of 20 from beyond the arc.
It was the defense that was stellar on the night, though. WNCC pulled down 54 rebounds, including 30 on the defensive end. Giovanna Silva led the way with 11 followed by Avery nine, and Merle Wiehl and Kari Seay with six each.
WNCC's defense picked up midway in the first quarter. Otero trailed 6-5 early. That was when Kadic hit back-to-back buckets. WNCC went on to lead 21-10 after the opening quarter.
The Cougars outscored the Rattlers 19-10 in the second quarter to lead 40-20 at halftime.
WNCC really opened up the contest in the third, outscoring Otero 25-11. In fact, Otero didn't hit a field goal in the final four minutes of the quarter because all they hit was three free throws. WNCC, at one time in the quarter, went on a 17-0 run to lead 63-29. The Cougars led 65-31 after the third.
WNCC had four players in double figures. Kadic led with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Avery tossed in 15 points followed by Wiehl with 14 and Seay with 13.
No Otero player finished in double figures. McClain Walker led the way with eight points.
WNCC, 25-3, will close out the regular season next Friday when they travel to face McCook Community College. The Cougars will then turn around and face McCook in the first-round of the Region IX tournament in a home contest the first weekend in March.
"We talk about it every day that if we have good practices, we will play good," Avery said. "So we just prepare in practice and hope for a good outcome."
Otero 10 10 11 8 – 39
WNCC (25-3) 21 19 25 14 – 79
OTERO
Kalani Peloa 4, Taylor Nittler 2, Alyssa Lovato 2, Berklee Lerohl 5, Danielle Freeman 2, McClain Walker 8, Alba Vera Ponte 3, Laura Prado Morales 6, Grace O'Neill 7.
WNCC
Melisa Kadic 22, Merle Wiehl 14, Jaleesa Avery 15, Sophie Agorakis 1, Olivia Wiberg 4, Karli Seay 13, Anastacia Johnson 1, Giovanna Silva 9.