Your future, our focus
BY SETH ROMSA TRIBUNE SPORTS WRITER
Courtesy of the Powell Tribune
After a busy week that featured four games in seven days, the Trapper women came up against a familiar opponent on Saturday at home in a Region IX tournament play-in game. The Northwest College squad stepped up to again defeat Central Wyoming, 70-49.
Playing a team for the third time can have its advantages and disadvantages, but the Trappers (14-13 overall, 5-5 Region IX North) were not going to let their season end to the No. 5-seeded Rustlers (6-21 overall, 2-8 Region IX North).
The Trappers forced 11 Rustler turnovers to propel a strong first quarter. NWC took advantage early, making 9-of-12 free throws to take a 15-10 lead heading into the second quarter.
“We just saw an opportunity to pressure them and we wanted to make them uncomfortable,” Trapper head coach Lauren Davis said. “Our girls did a great job executing some of our different press looks, I was super impressed by our execution and it worked in our favor.”
Northwest extended its lead to double digits in the second quarter, after a steal and layup by sophomore Celina Tress put the Trappers up 23-13 with 4:56 left in the half.
The Trappers continued to pressure Central through a high press, forcing five more turnovers in the second quater, and went into the half with a 33-21 lead.
Coming out of the break, freshman Nayeli Acosta made a 3-pointer to extend the lead to 15 points. Northwest continued its high energy play as freshman Kiana Quintero and sophomore Kierra Cutright combined for 10 points in the quarter to make it 51-33 heading into the fourth quarter.
“When our girls are aggressive and getting to the free throw line then we are hard to beat,” Davis said. “Being aggressive is huge for us on the offensive and defensive end.”
With the game in hand, Northwest pushed the lead out to more than 20 points multiple times in the fourth quarter. The Trappers cruised past Central in the opening round to advance to the regional quarterfinal today (Thursday) in Casper.
REGION IX TOURNAMENT
The Trappers will come up against a familiar opponent in the quarterfinal, as they will match up with Region IX South winner and NJCAA No. 4 ranked Western Nebraska (26-1 overall, 11-0 Region IX South).
Northwest faced the Cougars in the opening game of the season on the road, losing 83-62, and in the season’s second weekend, falling 107-54 in Riverton.
In those two games, NWC committed 63 combined turnovers, but the Trappers are hoping to change that narrative this week, as they have continually decreased their turnovers throughout the season.
“I think we feel good going against Western Nebraska,” Davis said. “We played them at the beginning of the year; that was so long ago and both teams are completely different now. I think it will be a great game and a true testament to how far we have come this year.”
The game against Western Nebraska is set to take place at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Casper, and will be streamed on the Casper College YouTube channel.