MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College women's basketball team started slow, but used a late first-quarter run and went on to down McCook Community College 72-61 in a Region IX South Sub-region contest.

                WNCC moves to 21-6 on the year and to 5-3 in conference play. The Cougars will next be in action Tuesday when they host North Platte Community College in a women's and men's doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

                The win also snapped a 3-game losing skid for the Cougar women.

                Friday night it wasn't easy as McCook started hot in the first quarter before WNCC went on a 12-0 to 24-17 after one quarter.

                The second quarter saw the Cougar women play strong defense as they expanded on the lead to grab a 37-25 lead.

                WNCC came out and outscored McCook 19-15 in the third and pushed the lead to 56-40 after three quarters and kept the lead around 10 or more in the fourth quarter to get the win.

                WNCC shot 39 percent for the field, made seven 3-pointers (23.3 percent and made 11-of-12 free throws (91.7 percent). The Cougars outrebounded MCC 39-30.

                The Indians shot 46.3 percent from the field, made four triples and were 7-of-12 from the charity stripe.

                WNCC had a balanced scoring night with four in double figures. Amiyah Donaldson led the way with 21 points  with three 3-pointers. Ebere Egbirika tallied 14 points with seven rebounds while Helena Kuck had 12 points with four triples. Mackenzie Joseph finished with 10 points with seven boards.

WNCC                 24 13 19 16 – 72
McCook              17 8 15 21 – 61
WNCC
Helena Kuck 12, Gal-La Font 6, Mackenzie Joseph 10, Adelina Urtane 2, Amiyah Donaldson 21, Ebere Egbirika 14, Kayla Cervantes 4, Laura Montiel 2, Jamie Caron 1.
MCCOOK
N. Chorda Iglesias 7, Rebecca Dunn 9, Suzan Sisman 14, Audra Vine 12, G. Guettner Bacoul 14, Madara Liepniece 2, Carlotte Aliaga Alonso 1, Bri Hunter 2.