Northwest College

News Archive (2019-20 and older)

Lady Trappers survive, then triumph in overtime

Sarah Nielsen’s desperation pass in the final seconds of Tuesday’s Region IX North battle fell into the hands of Central Wyoming’s Jolonna Sazue, and Northwest College fans held their breath as she fired a desperation 3-pointer as the game clock read :00. 

But the shot clanged off the rim, overtime ensued and NWC never gave the Rustlers another opportunity at game ending heroics. 

NWC instead completed its rally from multiple double- digit deficits to knock off Central 79-71 on the NWC’s Sophomore Night at Cabre Gym in Powell. 

“It’s always good to end that last home game and honor the sophomores with a win,” NWC head coach Janis Beal said. “They wanted to make it exciting going into overtime, but I can’t say enough about our sophomores tonight.” 

Dana Bjorhus erupted for a game-high 29 points for NWC. Sophomore Hatti Snyder posted a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds, and sophomore Caitlin Clancy added 11 points and eight boards.

NWC (14-14, 7-6) needed every one of those points after its early 13-11 edge turned into a 36-28 hole at the half. CWC’s first bucket of the second half, a Lashyra Butler layup, accounted for the first double-digit lead of the contest for either team, but NWC began chipping away. 

“We just kept fighting, and I’m really proud of our team for that,” Bjorhus said. 

Bjorhus kept NWC alive with nine straight points following Butler’s basket. She scored on a layup as she was fouled, knocked down the free throw and followed with three straight jumpers, the last of which cut the lead to seven as CWC kept answering. A Sazue trey gave the Rustlers another 10-point lead, but NWC finally went into sustained rally mode to force overtime.

“We just really pushed ourselves,” Bjorhus added. “We know that we have good players on this team and we know what we can do, so it was nice to show some of that.” 

NWC showed it with a 22-12 move that turned its 10-point disadvantage into a 59-59 tie. The two squads resumed their stalemate for the final three minutes until Kiara Skinner and Sazue combined for four points that gave CWC a 67-65 lead with 20.6 seconds remaining. NWC tied it though when sophomore Mandee Christensen fired a behind-the-back pass around 6-6 CWC defender Stephanie Smith that landed in the hands of NWC’s Kealani Sagapolu for a layup. 

In OT, Bjorhus started a 4-0 spurt with a jumper that gave NWC the lead for good. 

“I know that coach Beal trusts me in certain situations, and she tells me she wants the ball in my hands,” Bjorhus said “... I’m just glad I could come through for her and my team.” 

CASPER 68, NORTHWEST 55
NWC couldn’t rekindle the same magic it produced in a Jan. 24 upset of Casper at Cabre Gym. This time, Casper earned a halftime lead and built on it for a victory at home.

Casper led 31-29 at the half, but outscored the visitors by 11 after the break. NWC was hurt by 19 turnovers and 38-percent shooting. Casper’s Cassidy Scott led Casper with 19 points. Bjorhus paced NWC with 17. 

“I felt like the girls played hard, we just needed to correct a few things,” Beal said. “We turned the ball over too many times, and those turnovers a lot of times led to Casper scoring.” 

NORTHWEST 66, WESTERN WYOMING 57
NWC tweaked an old saying during its Region IX North battle with Western: “They who run last run the longest.”

The Trappers’ biggest, and longest, run of their home game with the Mustangs on Feb. 12 turned a three-point deficit into a much-need region win at Cabre Gym. 

“I felt like we were just content to be in [the game] and keep it close and just be there,” Beal said. “We didn’t have really a sense of urgency, but I thought they did a really good job during that run.” 

“That run” came in the form of a 13-0 burst that saw NWC transform a late 54-51 deficit into a come-from-behind victory. After WWCC’s Tia Tiller sank a jumper, Snyder answered with five straight points.

She put back her own miss, and then was fouled on a layup that sent her to the line for a three-point play that pushed NWC ahead again, this time for good, at 56-54 with 5:46 remaining. 

Bjorhus, Rose, Cheney and Sagapolu all had a hand in the move, which ended on Sagapolu’s layup to give NWC a 64-54 cushion with 1:36 left. 

“We just had a lot of fun,” Sagapolu said. 

NWC was in a stalemate with WWCC for much of the contest. The teams went blow for blow until the break, which saw NWC hold to a 31-29 edge. But the squads continued their slugfest, and even exchanged 7-0 (Western) and 5-0 (NWC) runs in the second half that negated any blowout potential. 

WWCC’s final spurt, a 9-4 run, preceded the Trappers’ big move that sealed their victory. Sagapolu led NWC with 18 points, Caitlin Clancy added 14 and Snyder had 11.