STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team got 27 points from Gal-La Font, but it wasn't enough as the No. 25 Northeastern Junior College Plainswomen used a strong start to the third quarter in earning the 90-71 Region IX South Sub-region win Tuesday night in Sterling, Colorado.

                The Cougars drop to 20-5 on the season and 4-2 in sub-region play while NJC moves to 23-3 overall and 5-1 in conference play. WNCC will next be in action Monday when they host Northeastern Junior College at 5:30 p.m.

                WNCC battled the Plainswomen in the first quarter, leading 8-6 on a Amiyah Donaldson 3-pointer. NJC then went on an 8-0 run to lead 14-8 only to see the Cougars traile 18-17 on a Helena Kuck triple. NJC led 24-20 after one quarter.

                The second quarter was still tight with the Cougars trailing 28-26 before NJC hit a couple back-to-back buckets and hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 43-32 lead at halftime.

                The started strong to start the third as Mackenzie Joseph buried back-to-back 3-pointers and was within single digits. NJC then went on a key 12-0 run to lead 61-40. But, the Cougars kept fighting as they started to find their offense as Font had six points as WNCC went on an 11-0 run in cutting the deficit to 10, 61-51. WNCC trailed after three quarters 71-54.

                The fourth quarter was the difference as NJC held WNCC scoreless for the first five minutes while they went on a 10-0 run to lead 81-54. WNCC made it's first points of the fourth with 4:35 to play on a Laura Montiel bucket. WNCC later went on a 11-0 run to trail 83-67 on eight points front Font, but it wasn't enough as they fell 90-71.

                WNCC had two in double digits. Font finished with 27 points including going 13-of-15 from the charity stripe while pulling down seven rebounds before fouling out. Joseph finished with 19 points with four 3-pointers and eight rebounds. Donaldson and Montiel were next in line with seven points.

WNCC (20-5)    20 12 22 17 – 71
NJC (23-3)          24 19 28 19 – 90
WNCC
Amiyah Donaldson 7, Helena Kuck 6, Gal-La Font 27, Mackenzie Joseph 19, Adelina Urtane 4, Laura Montiel 7, Kiley Smich  1.
NJC
Genesis Sweetwine 21, Seneya Martinez 25, Ruby Sweeney-Spitzeck 18, A'mya Winfrey 7, Erin Williams 4, Alexandra Westerdijk 2, Jailyn Potts 9, Bianca Bindzus 4.