STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team scored 34 points in the fourth quarter to overcome a third-quarter deficit in rolling to a 78-59 South Sub-region win Tuesday night in Sterling, Colorado.
The win moves the WNCC women to 18-8 overall but more importantly puts them at 6-1 in the South Sub-region with three sub-region games left, all at home. NJC drops to 7-17 on the season and 2-5 in the sub-region. The winner of the south hosts the Region IX tournament March 9-11.
Bre Fowler, who finished with eight points and two 3-pointers, said the fourth-quarter play was huge.
"Overall we played three quarters not very good but came out in the fourth quarter looking a lot better," the sophomore from Berthoud, Colorado, said. "We played as a team and kept our intensity high (in the fourth). We gave up good shots for great shots. Defensively we made sure to not let shooters get hot and we played our game."
WNCC started the contest well as they jumped out to a 6-2 lead and led 12-6 at one time before the Plainswomen led 14-12 after the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Cougars jump to a 20-16 lead on two 3-pointers. NJC came back to go in front 21-20 and then later NJC led 27-24. WNCC got hot, going on an 8-2 run to close out the half on four points from Faith Walker to lead 32-29.
The second half saw WNCC get outscored 16-12. NJC led 38-31 before WNCC came back to go up 40-38 on a Walker bucket. WNCC led 42-40 on a Rashaan Smith bucket. After that, NJC scored six straight to lead 46-42 before Mackenzie Joseph hit a bucket to make the score 46-44 NJC after three.
The fourth quarter was all WNCC. The score was tied 47 when the Cougars went on a 16-0 run that was highlighted by two Joseph treys, a 3-pointer by Bre Fowler, and five points from Shiho Isono to lead 63-47.
NJC never got on track again as WNCC went on a mini 7-1 run and then led by 20 points at 75-55 on a Fowler bucket and a Jayla Owen trey to get the 78-59 win.
WNCC shot 46 percent for the game and were just 5-of-14 from beyond the arc. NJC was 33 percent from the field and just 7-of-21 from the 3-point line.
WNCC won the rebound battle 46-24. Isono led the way with 12 rebounds followed by nine from Walker and seven from Joseph.
Isono led the Cougars in scoring with 17 points. Isono also had six assists. Joseph also hit double digits with 15 points while Walker had 10.
WNCC will have games with Lamar Community College on Thursday and then McCook Community College Saturday afternoon. The Cougars will wrap up the regular season Feb. 25 when they host NJC.
Fowler said the last three games are important and they have to just play the game they are capable of playing.
"We have to play our game and not let distractions get in the way," she said. "We need to keep up our momentum so we can host the regional championships."
WNCC 12 20 12 34 – 78
NJC 14 15 16 14 – 59
WNCC
Shiho Isono 17, Jayla Owen 9, Yara Garcia 2, Bre Fowler 8, Mackenzie Joseph 15, Ola Duda 9, Faith Walker 10, Rashaan Smith 8.