The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team wrapped up the regular season on an 8-game winning streak as they get ready for post-season play and a chance to win the Region IX tournament and a trip the NJCAA national tournament later in March.
The Cougars will not have to go far for regionals as by winning the South Sub-region with a 9-1 mark, WNCC earned the right to host the regional tournament. The last time WNCC hosted regionals as in 2019 and that was the last time the Cougars won the regional tournament.
WNCC will open the regional tournament on Thursday in the final game of the day when they battle Western Wyoming Community College. The Cougars enter with a 21-8 record while Western Wyoming come in at 14-12. The Mustangs earned the right to move on at the regional tournament with a 73-61 first-round win Saturday against Eastern Wyoming College.
The other three first round games saw Trinidad State College get by Lamar Community College 68-62, Northeastern Junior College bested McCook Community College 60-56, and Laramie County Community College topped Central Wyoming 75-48.
Thursday's quarterfinal action begins at 12:30 p.m. when Laramie County battles Otero College. The winner of that game moves to a Friday semi-final match against the winner of Thursday's 2:30 contest between NJC and Casper College.
The other side of the bracket has Trinidad battling Northwest College at 5 p.m. with the winner moving to Friday's 7 p.m. semifinal match against the winner of Thursday's late game between WNCC and Western Wyoming.
The winner advances to the March 22-27 national tournament in Lubbock, Texas. WNCC has been to the national tournament the past six years, finishing last season in the final four.
Jayla Owen, who leads the team in scoring with a 12.3 average, said this team just needs to play their game and stay strong and focused.
"We have to play 40 minutes of great basketball," the freshman from Canada said. "We have to play together and we have to play loud. We have to put pressure on defense and make them turn it over. We just need to play together, as a team, and play as one."
The tournament will not be easy on their trek to win the program's 15th Region IX title since their first one in 1993. The team lost to three of the seven other teams in the tournament, including Thursday's opponent Western Wyoming. He other two teams WNCC lost to were Trinidad State and Casper College, opponents they could face in the semifinals and finals if they would win Thursday's game.
The Mustangs and Cougars split on the season in close contests. WNCC won back on November 71-67 before falling to the Mustangs 75-72. Both games were at Cougar Palace.
In the two previous games with Western Wyoming, the first encounter saw each team have three to four players in double figures. WNCC was led by Mackenzie Joseph with 23 points, including four 3-pointers followed by Bre Fowler with 11 and Shiho Isono with 10. The Mustangs were led by Kayde Strauss with 21 points including five 3-pointers. Western Wyoming also got 15 from Ashelynn Birch, 12 from Kayla Thornton, and 11 from Tamryn Blom.
The second encounter in January had the same type of scoring. WNCC was led by Owen with 25 points followed by Ola Duda with 17, whole Western Wyoming was led by Strauss with 17 followed by Birch with 15, Leiana Thornton with 11, and Blom with 10. The difference in the second contest was 2-point shooting where Western Wyoming connected on 8-of-19 3-pointers while the Cougars were just 2-of-14.
Owen said they have to play smart and play good defense against Western Wyoming to advance.
"We did lose to Western Wyoming and we need to close out on their shooters," she said. "They have one really good shooter that shoots the ball really well. We have to close out on her and make her take difficult shots. We have to rebound the ball. Rebounding the ball will be very important."
What makes WNCC dangerous is how explosive they could be as five players average in double figures with another two averaging around eight points a game. Owen leads the way at 12.3 followed by Duda at 11 points, Isono at 10.1, and Fowler and Joseph at 10 points. Yara Garcia is right behind at 8.6 points and Rashaan Smith is there at 7.7 points.
Owen said that this team can strike from anyplace on the floor and it could be by anyone.
"We have a lot of great players that can make great plays," Owen said. "Anybody on the team can score the ball from whether they are 3-pointers or layups. So, they (the other teams) will have to play good defense to stop us."
WNCC has won their last eight games since that 82-79 road loss to Trinidad State. The Cougars closest game in the last eight wins was a 72-62 win over Laramie County Community College. In a rematch with Trinidad State, the Cougars won the second meeting 73-53.
Owen said this team has come a long way since losing three straight three games in the first week of the second semester.
"It (the winning streak) shows the growth that we have had since the beginning of the season," Owen said. "We have come a long way as a team and individually. It will be super special for sure to win regionals. Everybody is going to go out there and we are counting on the days. The tournament will be great and we are excited. But, it will not be easy. It will requite hard work all three days."
Ticket prices for the regional tournament are $8 for adults, $6 for students and senior citizens, and a tournament pass is $20.
Region IX Women's Tournament
Thursday, March 9
12:30 p.m. – Otero vs. LCCC
2:30 p.m. – Casper vs. NJC
5 p.m. – Northwest vs. Trinidad
7 p.m. – WNCC vs. W. Wyoming
Friday, January 10
5 p.m. – Casper/NJC vs. LCCC/Otero winners
7 p.m. – Northwest/Trinidad vs. WNCC/WWCC winners
Saturday, March 11
4 p.m. – Region IX Championship