Northwest College

News Archive (2019-20 and older)

NWC Opens With 1-2 Record

Between starting point guard Domenica Gomes spraining an ankle and missing two games, and bus trips that seemed to last forever, the Northwest College women’s basketball team started the season with a series of adventures.

The Lady Trappers defeated Laramie County Community College 74-65, but dropped contests to Snow College 77-61 and Eastern Wyoming 91-80 last week, driving from Powell to Cheyenne to Rock Springs.

“We covered the state of Wyoming,” coach Janis Beal said.

The season opener was the victory over Laramie County and sophomore Dani McManamen’s 18 points was the key for the Trappers.

Otherwise, it was balanced scoring. Sophomores Dallas Petties and Charri McArthur and Hawaiian freshman Tala Aumua-Tuisavura each scored eight points.

The Trappers had shining moments in both losses, but did not play consistently enough to protect leads.

“We need to develop some toughness,” Beal said. “We have to not hang our heads when a play doesn’t go well. We made way too man turnovers.”

That included 30 in the victory and 23 against Snow.

The Snow and Eastern Wyoming games were part of the Western Wyoming College Classic. The team was hampered when Gomes, the playmaker, was sidelined with her ankle sprain.

The injury will be constantly re-evaluated, but it is not clear if the 1-2 Trappers will have Gomes back for this Friday and Saturday’s First Bank of Wyoming Shootout, the first home games of the season.

The tournament at Cabre Gym brings in Eastern Wyoming, Central Wyoming and Williston State of North Dakota.

The Trappers were sharper in the first half than the second versus Snow, with Petties and McManamen each contributing 12 points.

“We let them dictate the game,” Beal said of the Snow match-up. “They put in a press that gave us some trouble.”

Center Julynne Silva fired in 15 points against Eastern with Petties scoring 11 and grabbing eight rebounds. Aumua-Tuisavura had 11 points starting in place of Gomes. McManamen didn’t shoot much, but added eight points, eight rebounds and five assists.

After the three-games-in-three days start, mixed in with hundreds of miles of riding, this weekend shapes up as tamer for the Trappers.

“It will be good to be at home,” Beal said.