The 14th-ranked Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team used a 14-0 run in the second quarter to outscore the Northwest Trappers 21-6 for a 39-26 lead at halftime on the way to the 82-62 win the Cougars' season opening contest at Cougar Palace Monday evening.
Ale'Jah Douglas continued her scoring from last year as the sophomore from Omaha pitched in 27 points to lead the Cougars.
Douglas said the team didn't play their best but found a way to get the win.
"As a team for the first game, we did not perform to our fullest potential," Douglas said. "However, we got to see where we were at and what we need to work on."
After a month of scrimmages, the Cougars finally got to take to the court and the first half was a rough go for the Cougars. Douglas said they know that but they rebounded with a strong second quarter to help them get the win.
"We got off to a slow start in the first quarter, but managed to gain momentum in the second to take the lead and pull out the win," she said.
Northwest led 20-18 after one period. The second quarter was the Cougars as the defense stepped it up, holding the Trappers to just six points. In the meantime, WNCC went in front 21-20 on a Ashley Panhem bucket. Northwest went back in front at 26-25. That was when WNCC went on a 14-0 run led by Shanti Henry's back-to-back buckets including a trey for the 39-26 led at halftime.
Northwest sliced the led to 39-31 in the second half before Shayane Poirot hit a trey and Douglas had four points for a 48-33 lead. Northwest battled back to cut the lead to 57-50 on a Brenna Rouane bucket. Yara Garcia came back for two free throws and Payton Fields closed out the third with a bucket for a 63-50 lead.
WNCC outscored Northwest 21-12 in the final 10 minutes, leading 69-52 on a Fields offensive rebounds.
WNCC shot 39.2 percent while Northwest shot 42 percent. Northwest had seven treys to five for WNCC.
Douglas led the way in scoring with 27 points with five assists and seven steals. Fields also had double figures with 12 points. Amani Brown and Shanti Henry each had nine points.
WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they travel to the Central Wyoming Invite when they face Northwest on Friday and then Central Wyoming on Saturday. WNCC will then return home to host Eastern Wyoming on November 16.
Northwest will have another game at Cougar Palace on Tuesday as they play Northeastern Junior College at 5:30 p.m.
Women's Game
Northwest 20 6 24 12 – 62
WNCC 18 21 24 19 – 82
NORTHWEST
Annie Mitzel 8, Kiana Quintero 4, Brenna Rouane 11, Kierra Cutright 5, Nayeli Acosta 18, Darla Hernandez, 14, Tatiana Coleman 2.
WNCC
Ale'Jah Douglas 27, Yara Garcia 4, Amani Brown 9, Aminata Zie 4, Shanti Henry 9, Ashley Panhem 4, Payton Fields 12, Shayane Piorot 8, Mia Jaye Sarkodee-Adoo 1, Rashaan Smith 4.